davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28
Wonderful Figure.

One of the most marvellous workmen in the world is Hananuma Masakichi of Tokyo, who has carved a figure in wood so like himself that when the two are placed side by side it is said to be almost impossible to tell which lives and breathes and which does not.
 By several connoisseurs in art this wooden figure has been pronounced the most perfect and human image of man ever made. Masakichi has faithfully reproduced every scar, vein and wrinkle to be seen on his own body. The figure is composed of 2,O00 pieces of wood, dovetailed and jointed with such won- derful skill that no seams can be de- tected.
 Tiny holes were drilled for the recep- ton of hairs, and the wooden figure has glass eyes and eyelashes in which DO Gissimilarity to Masakichi s own can be detected.
 The Japanese artist posed between two mirrors while modelling this figure, and for some time after it's completion he posed frequently beside it, to the confusion of spectators, who were often entirely at loss as to which was the artist. The figure stands with little mask in one hand and an instrument for carving in the other. The lifelike eyes are apparently gazing at the mask, and the face wears look of intense ab- sOrption
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28
GUN COTTON.
Details of the Manufacture of Vio-
 lent Explosive.

Details of the Manufacture of a Vio-
 lent Explosive.
 The use of gun cotton in the charging of tOrpedOes and for other purposes has become so enormous that some account of its modern manufacture is of inter- est. Pure raw cotton or ordinary cotton waste, which is commonly seen in all places where machinery is used, is steeped in a solution of one part of nitric and three parts of sulphuric acid. It is the former that renders the sub stance explosive, the latter being used only to absorb the water, thus permit ting the nitric acid to combine more readily with the cellulose of the cotton.
 After being soaked several hours in the acids the cotton is removed and passed between rollers to expel from 1t the non-absorbed acid. The cotton Is then thoroughly washed to remove any acid still remaining which would de compose the cotton if permitted to re- main in it. This washing process is a long one, requiring machinery which reduces the cotton to much the same condition to which rags are reduced in a paper mill-a sort of pulp.
 If it Is to be used in the manufacture of powder the cotton is still further pull veriZed and is then thoroughly dried. If 1t is for use In torpedoes 1t is com- pressed into shapes that make it easy to pack Into torpedo heads. The form varies greatly, sometimes being disk shaped, sometimes cylindrical; again it is in flat squares and again in cubes. The gun cotton when not compressed Is light, about the weight of an equal bulk of common batting. Terrible as it Is as an explosive. brick of it when wet may be placed upon hot coals, and as the moisture dries off the cotton flakes and burns quietly. When dry, however, 1t will explode with great vio- lence If exposed to a temperature of about 320 degrees.
 It Is usually fired by detonation, or an intense shock, which produces a more powerful effect than heat. In the tor pedo the wet cotton is detonated by the explosion of dry cotton in tube, which is fired by a cap of illuminate of mer- cury, which is. in turn, fired by the i'm pact of the torpedo against the hull of the vessel toward which 1t Is discharg' ed.-Chicago Record.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

UNDERGROUND RAIL ROAD PASSENGER.


to neighbor Sherman's, and all being quiet about the premises, I at once made my way to the loft, where l found my man just on the point of setting forth alone. so impatient was he of a longer stay in the dangerous precincts.
 We had crept cautiously downstairs and around the barn, not drawing a and the house, when we heard team driven rapidly to the door, and voices in low, earnest conversation. Then some one ran rapidly up the stairs to the loft, and presently returned; where upon the team was driven away in greater haste than it had come.
 I did not understand it at all, and only felt sure that we had started none too soon. It was bright starlight, so we skulked along fences, which led us a roundabout way, till we came near our house, waiting among the pear trees of the garden.
 The kitchen door was open, my father standing in it. in silhouette against the candle-light, speaking in an earnest tone to two men who stood little out side the threshold. Other figures stood at intervals around the house, very steadfast and alert. except one who seemed to be looking In our direction.
 'I tell you there's no one but my own family in my house," heard my father say.
 One of the men replied. That's all very well. MT. Thorne, but can't take your word for 1t, when there's a nigger in the case We shall have to search the house."
 Then, with a terror that seemed to melt my leg-bones and take my heart ofmy body. I realized that our house was beleaguered by slave-hunters. The two men at the door pushed in past my father, while the others stood more
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28
The Largest Loayes of Bread.

The largest loaves of bread baked
 in the world are those of France and Italy. The pipe" bread of Italy Is baked in loaves two or three feet long, while in France the loaves are made in the shape of very long rolls four or five feet In length, and in many cases even six feet. The bread of Paris Is distributed almost exclusively by wo- men, who go to the various bakehouses at 5:3O a. m. and spend about an hour polishing up the loaves. After the loaves are thoroughly cleaned of dust and grit, the bread porter" proceeds on the round of her customers. Those who live in apartments or flats find their loaves leaning against the door.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

The language of diplomacy is always restrained, but while the words are carefully chosen so as to avoid unneces- sary offense, every phrase has definite meaning. When Lord Rosebery was prime minister in England there were signs that France had set her eyes upon the equatorial prnNipces in Africa from which the Egyptian garrisons had been withdrawn during the Soudan rebellion. He authorized Sir Edward Grey to de clare, in 1895, that French advance to the waters of the Nile would be regard ed by the British Government as "an unfriendly act" In ordinary conver- satiOn these three words would not be emphasized by any stress of voice, nor would they ordinarily be accepted as a warning. The man who protests in ad- vance against an invasion of his rights generally uses a stronger word than "unfriendly." He refers to it as wan ton outrage" or as a 'high-handed act of hostility" What diplomacy means by "an unfriendly act'' is an offense committed by one Government against another, which involves immediate risks of war When Sir Edward Grey's warning was unheeded, and the French flag was raised on the Upper Nile at Fashoda three years afterward, there was a grave situation. France had com mitted an offense against England, and was confronted by a demand that Mar chand should retire from Fashoda. The terms of the demand implied forcible action if it was not complied with. Pres ident Monroe, who was a diplOmatist like his Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams. used the same word "unfriend- ly'' in proclaiming the famous doctrine which bears his name. He declared that any attempt on the part of European powers to interfere with or Oppress the independent republics of the American continent, or to control their destiny, could not be viewed 'in any other light than as a manifestation of an unfriend- lv disposition toward the United States" The phrase seems mild and lacking in emphasis. As diplomatistS have under stood the words, it has been strong and definite The Monroe doctrine, with the warning implied by the single word .unfriendly," has sufficed for seventy five years to protect the Western Hemi- sphere against European intrigue.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

The postoffice department is arrang- ing for a considerable extension of rural free delivery. The enlarged appropriation for this purpose voted at the last session of Congress enables it to do so. Many com munities which are anxious to share the benefits of this service have made known their wish to the depart ment. The selection among them is made with a view to benefiting the largest number possible with the avail able money. A law which went into effect on the first of July last permits the use of private mailing cards. Here tofOre the postal card by the Govern ment was the only one allowed. Now any one may put the address and a One-cent stamp on any card of about the same size, form and weight as the postal card. and write a message on the other side of the card. The Govern ment will profit by the use of these cards, for 1t will save the cost of their manufacture, while the senders will be permitted to print on tEe message side any business devices, or views of seen cry, such as travellers abroad like to mail to their friends. A reform which is to be hoped for is the introduction of stout, linen-llned stamped envelopes in which to send registered mail. Such envelopes are in common use in Flu rope, and are found to be great con- venience and much safer than our sys- tenn of putting the stamp of regiStra- ton on an ordinary envelope.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28
Hungarian Gypsy Minstre1..

The gypsy minstrels form caste by themselves. Their appearance is always more swarthy than that of other Hun garian musicians, their dress is some times purpoSely fantastic, and their manner of life is far more Bohemian than the most liberal minded artist would care to own to. Every hotel and restaurant in Budapest possesses its gyp- sy band, and the method of payment is as free and easy as the music itself and their life. The hotel keeper is not bound by any contract, but at various intervals throughout the performance one of his gypsies takes dinner plate and goes round among the various guests in the hall from table to table, receiving in the plate what the latter like to put there. The favorite coin deposited there is the nickel 10 kreutzer piece, answer ing to our twopence. have not often seen a f1orin or kronen (half florin). The whole collection is, as rule, made up of twopences. Good Words
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

but heard that he reached Canada with out further adventure.
 A few days later I happened to hear my father thanking neighbor Sherman very warmly for what he had done. and the response of the latter was:
 "Sho! Abr'am. don't never say a word about it. I wouldn't for all the world have it get out at I harbored a runaway nigger. Why, they wouldn't never call on me agin to help ketcb lem" m."-YOuth's Companion.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

period of 1891 -93 the increase was only 100000 tons; and in the calendar year of 1897 the production was more than five million tons less than that of 1893 The extent of the hay industry indi- cates the seriousness of electricity's in jury. Last year the production from 42.426,77O acres was 60,6G4,ST6 tons valued at S4O1, ,39O,72S.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

The recent fire at the capitol in Wash ington may ultimately be found to have wrought more benefit than damage if the object lessons which it has taught will be learned by Congress. The most Important of these is that the Govern ment should erect without further delay a hall of records for the safe keeping of the great volume of precious documents such as those stored in the basement of the Supreme Court quarters and seri- Ously menaced by the flames and water.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28
snecific for seasickn ess.

Bright red spectacles accompanied by internal doses of calomel form a new German specific against seasickness. IL Is deduced from Epstein's investiga- tions on the influence of color on the blood vessels in the brain. Seasickness is due to lack of blood in the brain, while red sends blood to the brain with a rush. By looking at one point for some time through the red glasses tue patient is cured radically.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

The political boss may we'll say, with Lord Give, Considering my opportu- nifty, I am amzed at my own modera- tion." Give himself, walking through the treasury of the nabob of Bengal, with gold and silver and rubies and pearls piled on each side of him; with no power on earth to limit or question him, never enjoyed opportunities equal to those of boss in a great city. That his very nod is Olympian is well ex- pressed by a recent speaker: If any body refuses to give him the position to which he thinks he is entitled, that per -jV- dnd-an engine-house erected in his back yard"
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28
spanish Wooden Bullets.

It Is we'll known that Spanish soldiers in Cuba were poor marksmen, but great surprise has been expressed, says the Scientific American, at the remark able lack of execution which character ized their fire at Guantanamo and San tiago, and an officer of the United States gunboat Montgomery has been able to throw some light on the matter. He visited the Maria Teresa after the destruction of Cervera's fleet in search of souvenirs He found a large num- Der of Mauser cartridges in groups of five ready to go into the magazines of the guns, and if the entire Spanish army and navy were equipped with that kind of ammunition both Cervera and Toral were amply justified in sur rendering when they did. The car tridges consisted of a metal shell load ed with hair and a sprinkling of pow der. The bullet was of neither brass nor lead, but of wood. Some army con- tractor had imposed on the ordnance bureau of the Spanish navy, but to what extent the wooden Mauser bullets were used will probably never be known.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28
Talking to an Invalid.

A physician. in an article illustrat- ing the evil custom of talking to an in- valid about his pains, says that once he requested a mother to mark a stroke upon paper each time that she asked a sick daughter how she was. The next day to her astonishment she made l09 strokes. A three months visit away from home was prescribed.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

A rule has been adopted in New York for bidding the employment of married women as teachers in the public schools. The married women may be able to stand such discrimination, but the blow will fall heavily upon some of the married men
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

Men now living can remember when Rowland Hill effected the adoption of the penny post in England, and the vast progress it marked in human in- tercourse and information. To-day we stand upon the threshold of penny post era, not only throughout the Brit Ish empire, but in all the English-speak- ing world. It will be a time of mighty forward movements toward that inti- mate intercourse and sympathetic mu- tual knowledge that are the essential prelude to the brotherhood of man.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

A "gory toddy" drawn from the veins of a horse which has been kept in state of beastly -intoxication for Ir0nth and hypodermicaIly injected into the anatomy of the victim of alco- holism is the latest cure announced for the drink appetite. If this new serum works as we'll as described, We shall soon see rum routed.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28
Old Age Pensions in New Zealand

Old Age Pensions in New Zealand.
 New Zealand, which has prided her self for a good many years on lad vanced" legislation, and which is often held up as one of the most progressive countries in the world (though a Brit ish colony, Is about to inaugurate what may be called an old age pension regime,
 The Legislature of the far-off colony recently passed an elaborate bill, mak- ing provision for pensions to persons in straitened circumstances who are over 65 years old. The pension amounts to but 800 a year, or about $1.75 a week, and no one who has an income of over $5 a week or property worth more than $2,700 will be en. titled to 1t. Twenty years residence in the colony and ten years exem. plary conduct are requisite in order to secure this state gift, which Is sig nificant, not so much for the amount as for the precedent which 1t em bodies.-BOstOn Globe.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

All the girls in Edwin Gould's New Jersey match factory struck for higher wages. We don't propose to make matches for nothing" explained their leader. And she was right, too. If the girls want to make matches the boys should do the proposing.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

Mrs. Leslie Carter, who has failed for $64 1000, with $200 assets, may or may not be elevating the stage, but she cer- tainly has elevated finance to the level of the fine arts.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

Supposing it's true this country drinks 1000, 100000 gallons of beer an nually, 1t seems to support the argu- ment that excessive use of this bever- age tends to produce large figures.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

The fact that the sale of tandem bi- cycles fell off 50 per cent last year is another indication of the tendency to go 1t alone which is characteristic of our people.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

Tesla has invented a boat which re- quires no crew. The turning of a crank on the shore directs the boat. Tesla will probably act in the capacity of the crank.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

Up to date, the women members of 8 certain church have tried every known means to raise the church debt excep: by putting air bags under 1t.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

The surface of the sea is estimated at l5O, 900. 900 square miles, taking the whole surface of the globe at l97, 000, 900, and its greatest depth supposedly equals the height of the highest noun tain, or four miles.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

Spain has issued a mourning stamp. It must be affixed to all mail matter in addition to the regular postage. This regulation Is what causes the mourning.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

The owner of the S1,700 found in a sleeping car recently has not appeared to claim his property. He probably imagines that he tipped the porter.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

''Dewey's cotollon" is the latest fash ionable dance in New York. If it isn't mlsnamed it probably is too lively to be danced with comfort.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

One good way to double up ones money when about to bet on the result of an election is to fold it in two and put it in the pocket.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

Before expressing your honest con victions these days, you must lock yourself in a room and plug up tue key hole.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28
KinIinr,a ReSnOnse.

The Cantab, the Cambridge univer- sity weekly, asked MT. Rudyard Kip ling to contribute to its columns. In response came the following reply: There once was writer who wrote; "Dear Sir-In reply to your note
 Of yesterdays date
 am sorry to state
 It's no good at the prices you quote"
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

This case of the Maria Teresa again emphasizes the remark of the Ameri- can captain who said: Don't give up the shin"
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

It used to be said the longest pole got the most persimmons, but it also holds good that the biggest poll gets the most nIumS
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

Saturday Evening Post: The intro duction of electricity in the street railroad service has seriously in- 1ured two great American industries. both closely related-the breeding of draft horses and the growing of hay
 It is computed that the trolley and ca ble cars have displaced 290,00O horses in the cities of Philadelphia, Chicago, New York, Baltimore, St. Louis, Gin cinnati, Richmond and Toledo alone. This means a decrease in the consump- ton. of hay of more than thirteen hun dred tons per day. Other cities would nearly treble these figures. In the de- cade of 18S0-1S90 the hay crop of the United States nearly doubled; in the
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY

Israel Zangwill says he doesn't ap- prove republics. Now what Is to be donei
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28
One of the results of the late war be

One of the results of the late war be- tween the United States and Spain will most likely be the abolition of that form of naval piracy which finds it's justification in prize courts. In the military service of the civilized world the principle of footing conquered terri tory has long since been abandoned. Yet, through that strange contradiction which has not reformed the navy in the same ratio in which the army has been brought under civilizing infiu- ences, not only did the merchant yes sells carrying cOntraband goods fall a prey, but valuation on the warshipS destroyed is bound to go to officers and
 sailors of the ships engaged in the fight.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

It will be remembered, however, that the Maria Teresa always was subject to those severe sinking spells.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

Potters are not the only people xk make family jars.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-01-28

Confidence often begets confidence men.
The evening times., 1899-11-21
TWO CUNNING ACCIDENTS.
Pennsylvania Hunters Likely tn Die
From Their Wounds.

wILLIAMSPoRT. Pa, Nov. 2l--Wn-
liam Marks and Christopher Jackson were
brought to the hospital here from Jersey
Shore on a special train last night both
mortally wounded as the result of an acci-
dental shooting affair in the woods. \
party OF seven men had been cunning.
Shortly after noon they began shooting at
mark.
Peter Cook. a one-armed member OF the
party, pointed what he believed TO be an
empty gun at Marks. He pulled the trig-
ger and a load of No. bird shot entered
Marks hip and abdomen. Cook, when he
saw what he had done, became so beside
himself with excitement that his gun was
taken from him. All the guns were given
to Christopher Jackson, while the other
men carried Marks.
A boy named Lentz volunteered TO re
lieve Jackson of several of the guns. and
while the transfer was being made one of
the weapons fell to the ground and was
discharged. the entire load taking effect
under Jaekson's arm. A message from JeT-
sey Shore states that Cook is SC far be-
ide himself over the deplorahie affair that
his friends have bound him to prevent him
from doing himself harm.
The evening times., 1899-11-21
OPPOSED TO PROHIBITION.
4 Georgia Bishop Says IL Affects Per.
sOnal Liberty.

ATLANTA. Ga. Nov. 2l.-Bishop C. X.
Nelson, of the Episcopal Diocese OF Gecr-
gia. delivered sermon at the cath> dral
Sunday in which he declared himself op-
posed to prohibition. He said that the SER
mon bad no reference to the vii in & ham
prohibition bill now pending in the /, gis-
ture. but the reason he spoke upon the
subject was because the church authorities
had set apart the day as a time for uni
versal discussion OF this topic.
Bishop Nelson said he was opposed to
prohibition because II interfered with the
GoG-givsn right OF personal liberty. he
declared that from his observation tie had
come TO the conclusion that prolibi.i n
laws were ineffective wherever they wsre
tried. He spoke of the State o. Maine
whose citizens, he said, had found that
there was more, intemperance under rigid
prohibition laws than under local option
system. He asserted that there is more
intemperance in eating in Georgia than
there is in whisky drinking. The Bislop
explained that he did not approve OF in
temperance. but declared that prohib. ii n
did little il anything TO remove the vice.