davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03

putting the corn there was this: She
believes that the corn represents one
Of her most powerful gods on the
earth, and that If this god is made to
feel kindly towards the newborn
child he will send 1t good health and
strength and skill in hunting and ev-
erything else that she desires for her
loved baby. So, you see, it is mother
love, combined with a singular super
stition, that makes the hopi mother
place the ear of corn by the side of
her sleeping child.
When the baby is 20 days old 1t is
shall / say ?-baptized. You can hard
ly call it this, but, anyhow, it answers
the same thing az baptism does with
us. About sunset the child's godmother
arrives. She is generally the grand
ruother or aunt on the fathers side.
Just as the first streaks of light begin
20 come in the early morning the cere-
mony begins. After washing the
mothers head and legs and feet, the
baby's turn comes. The house Is full
of relatives and friends 10 watch and
bring good fortune to the little one.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03

A bowl OF suds is made by beating the
soapweed until the water is covered
with beautiful lather. Then the god
mother takes an ear of corn. dips ii
into the suds, and touches the haby's
head with il. This she does four times.
Then she washes the baby's head very
carefully and thoroughly in the suds.
But the washing would be OF no good
unless all the baby's female relatives
on the fathers side were to dip their
ears Of corn into the suds and touch
its head with them four times, just as
the godmother did. Now the baby is
washed all over. and then-strange 10
say-the godmother fills her mouth
full of warm water, and, balancing the
baby on one hand, she squirts the water
from her mouth all over the little one.
To dry it., she holds it before the fire,
and whenEit is quite dry she rubs 1t
with white corn meal, wraps 1t in a
blanket, aud passes it over to the
mother, who is seated near TO the fire.
just before her are two baskets full
of corn meal one coarsely and one fine
ly ground. Taking an old blanket. the
godmother spreads it over the mothers
lap, the baby Is placed on 1t, then she
takes a little of the fine meal and rubs
it ON the face, arms and neck of the
mother, and also upon the face of the
child. Then with the ear of corn in
her hand, and slowly and regularly
moving it up and down, she prays first
over the mother, then over the baby.
/ have heard several of these prayers.
Here is one of them: "Ho-ko-na (but-
terfy), ask for you that you live TO
be old, that you may never be sick,
that you may have good corn and all
good things. And now l name you Ho-
ko-na" Tor whatever the name is to bel.
Then every woman and girl of the ia
theirs relatives does just the same and
prays the same kind of prayer; but
singular to us is the fact that each
one gives the child any name she pre-.
fers. As each one finishes her prayer,
she gives her ear of corn and some sa-
cred meal she has brought with her
to the mother, who invariably re.
spends with the Hopi THANK you'll"
"Es-kwa-li."
Nobody knows at the time which
name the baby will have, as he or she
grows up. That is left to chance to
determine generally the preference
of the mother.
Now the baby is put in its cradle,
with some of the ears of corn present
ed to the mother placed under the lac
ing on the breast of the little one. and
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03
SCENT ITS WORST QUALITY.
Were II Not for It's Unpleasant Smell
the OMEN would lie High
~ Popular.

II Is interesting 10 make inquiry into
the cause of this unfortunate quality
of the onion. II Is simply due to the
presence in some quantity of another
mineral matter I'm the bnlb-sulphnr.
II is this sulphur that gives the onion
its germ-killing property and makes
the bulb so very useful medicinal
agent at all times, but especially in the
spring, which, used TO be-and st Is In
many places-the season for taking
birthstone and treaele in old-fashioned
houses before sulphur tablets came into
vogue, says a writer in Chambers Jour
nal.
Now, sulphur, when united to hydro
gen, one of the gases of water, forms
sulphuretted hydrogen and then be
comes n foul-smelling, well-nigh n
fetid, compound. The onion. being so
juicy, has very large percentage Of
water in it's tissues, and this. combining
with the sulphur, forms the strongly
scented and offensive substance called
sulphuret of allyle, which is found in
all the albums. This snlphuret of al
| lyle mingles more especially with the
volatile or aromatic oil of the onion;
II is identical with the alodorant prin-
| ciple found in asafoetida, which is al
most the symbol of all smells that are
nasty. The horseradish, so much liked
with roast beef for its keen and biting
property. and the ordinary mustard Of
our tables both owe their strongly
stimulatiye properties to this same sui
phuret Of allyle, which gives them
heat and acridity, but not an offensive
smell, owing to the different arrange
ments of the atoms in their volatile
oils,
This brings MS TO a most curious fact
In nature, that most strangely, yet
most certainly constructs all vege-
table volatile oils in exactly the same
way--eomposes them all whether they
are aromatic essences of cloves,
oranges, lemons, cinnamon, thyme,
rose, yerbena, turpentine or onion, Of
exactly the same proportions, which
are s1A Of carbon to 11H of hydrogen,
and obtains all the vast scent simply by
a different arrangement of the atoms
in each vegetable oil. Oxygen alters
some OF the hydrocarbons; sulphur
others.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03

IL is ready to be dedicated to the sun
After sweeping the floor the god.
mother sprinkles line of meal about
two inches wide from the cradle to
the door, and the mother does the
same thing.
Out of doors the father is anxiously
watching for the first direct light of
the sun, and the moment it appears
above the horizon he gives the signal.
Immediately the godmother picks up
the cradle, so that the baby's head il
towards the door, and near to the floor,
carries it over the line of sacred meal,
the mother following. Each has hand.
full of meal. At the door they stand
side by side. The godmother removes
the blanket from the baby's face, holds
the sacred meal to her mouth, says .
short prayer, and then sprinkles ths
meal towards the sun, and then the
mother does the same; and, after cere-
monially feeding the baby, all joining
in the feast. the ceremony is at an end.
GEORGE WHARTON JAMES.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03
CIVILIZING ALASKA.
what Our nureaa of Education IL De-
Ing value of the
Reindeer.

IN Alaska. the entire work Of educa-
ton is under the direction of the United
States bureau OF education.
Alaska is a big rock, covering 100000
square miles, that IS covered with moss
in the most barren places. 1t is the
kind of moss that the reindeer eat.
rhe human being can live on moss, also.
hut it Is better to have the reindeer eat
the moss aud provide man with meat
and milk" relates Dr. ". I. Harris. In
Ainslee's.
In the work Of education in Alaska
the object has been to prepare the na-
tiFes IL take mp the industries and
modes of life of the states, and 10 in
ducc them 10 discontinue their ancient
tribal customs. II had been obvious
from the beginning OF the government
subsidies in lss5-s6 that there should
be not only education In the elementary
English branches, but also a training in
the employment of civilized life. From
the first at all the missions established
by different religious denominations
there wns instruction in cooking.
housekeeping and elothes-making.
Then followed more careful education
in the trades OF earpentering. black
smithing and shoemaking, under the
direction of the bureau Of education,
which subsidized for this purpose the
PRESBYTERIAN Industrial school at Sit
lsa. II was believed that II the natives
OF Alaska could be taught TO use the
English language, be brought under
Christian influence by the missionaries
and be trained in suitable forms of in
dnstry. the increasing white popul~
ton of Alaska, composed Of immi-
grants from the states. would be able
to employ them in mining, transporta-
tion and the production of food. II was
found, however, that I'm order TO reach
the thousands of primitive inhabitants
of Alaska, something entirely out OF
the ordinary In educational methods
must serve as beginning. The ideo
of introducing herds of reindeer and
of persunding the natives TO care for
them was first considered in 1901, This
plan was suggested by DIR. Sheldon
jackson and Capt. Healy, of the United
States revenue cutter Bear. Forty
thousand natives engaged in reindeer
herding and transportation would not
only be brought step further toward
civilization, but would furnish the con-
tingent needed TO make possible the
mining industry. After four years OF
experiments 1t became certain that this
project would prove a success"
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03
COME BY DEVIOUS ROUTE.
How TeIegrams from China Reach
the United states Cow
ernmeDt.

Let us follow a diapatch from Tien-
tsin, says the Washington Star. Sup
pose it should read: Long, Washing
ton; 1t is imperative that a brigade
of troops and a powerful fleet Of war
vessels be sent at once. Our forces re-
pulsed with heavy loss. Act quickly"
This dispatch is fled at Tientsin as
above. IL is in cipher. The operator
receives merely a lot OF words with
out consecutive connection or meaning
70 him. lie goes il blind as far as
accuracy is concerned. He ticks 1t off
to Hong-Kong, TO the cable station.
The English have two complete cables
from HongKong to London, by re-
lays, as / will describe. From Hong
Kong the dispatch is sent TO Singa-
pore, either by way Of Labuan, on the
island of Borneo, or by the Cochin
China relay. At Singapore II is sent
to the next relay station, at Penang,
also on the Malay peninsula. 1t then
penetrates India, being caught up at
Madras and hurried on TO Bombay
Thence it flies to Alden, in Arabia, to be
put on the cable to Suez, Africa. 1t
then speeds toward Europe via Malta,
Gibraltar, Lisbon and finally winding
up ON that side of the hemisphere at
the central Office in London. Thence
It is ticked to New York, to be Once
more Transcribed and sent TO Washing
ton.
The dispatch has consequently been
transcribed no less than is times at
the various relay stations. IL it be sent
overland from Marseilles, France, one
or two Of the relay stations have
named would be Gut out.
II Is reasonable, therefore, that
code dispatch handled by so many diff
ferent hands and in different coun-
tries, even assuming that all of the
operators are English, should be a lit
lie the worse for wear when IL reaches
the big pile Of granite on Pennsylvania
avenue
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03

than those performed by the parents
and other relatives when Hopi baby
comes into the world. There are re-
igion, affection, sentiment and poetry
embraced in what we-the superior
people-would undoubtedly term the
superstitious rites of these. simple
hearted people. One reason for the
fervor of this rite is the genuine well
come every Hopi mother and father
accord to their baby when it is born.
1t is good form" among them to
be proud of the birth of their chill
dren. No married woman is happy
unless she has a "quiver full" of chill
dren, and one OF her constant prayers
before her marriage is that she may
be thus blessed.
So when the child comes there is
great rejoicing. 1t is Immediately
rubbed all over with ashes 10 keep the
hair from growing on the body; or
that, at least, is the reason the Hopi
mother gives for allowing her little
one to be scrubbed all over with tho
ashes.
Then it is wrapped up in a cotton
blanket of the mothers own weaving,
for Hopi women, and men, also, are
great experts in growing, spinning
and weaving cotton. Now it is ready
for the cradle, and the accompanying
picture shows what a Hopi cradle is
like. 1t is either piece of board or
fiat piece of woven wckerwork
about two and half feet long and
foot wide. There is also liked at the
upper end two or three twigs ar
ranged in a kind of bow, so that
piece of cloth thrown over them forms
an awning to protect the face of the
child from the sun. When this bow
Is not in use it can be slipped over to
the back of the cradle, where it is in
the illustration. Strapped in this
queer cradle, the baby is either
stretched out upon the ground to go
to sleep, covered over with a blanket,
or reared up against the wall But
II your eyes were keen you would see
by it's side beautiful white ear of
corn. And. if you saw it and knew the
Hopi mothers ways and her thoughts,
you would find that the reason for
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03
RUSSIA'S QUEER ALPHABET.
One Reason why People of other Ma
lions seldom Try TO Learn
This Language.

There are. perhaps, fewer learned
men who are familiar with the Rus
sian language than that of any other
people. This IL largely due TO the fact
that at the very threshold of the Rus
sian language one is confronted by the
alphabet, and most formidable OBJ
stacle it is to linguistic study. Cadmus,
with a prophetic sympathy for the
modern schoolboy, stopped short at "a
letters when he invented Greek, but
muskoffoyitehsky (as his Russian
prototype is called launches no fewer
than 35 on the guilepess foreigner, re-
lates the New York Times.
Some OF these. IT ~ true, have the
same form as the Roman characters.
but as their sound is usually entirely
different this similarity is rather an
additional stumbling block than a
help. Others, again, resemble our let
ters turned upside down or wrong side
about or otherwise contorted.
There is one letter for which we con-
ceiyed a profound respect, not un-
mixed with awe.
IL resembles figure III on a clock
dial and has the appalling sound Of
"chtch." When we came across a word
containing this letter we gazed upon II
in silent admiration. Any attempt TO
pronounce It would, we felt. prove IA
tai TO our incisors, and considering
the high fees charged by good dentists
we could not afford TO run any risks.
Another curious specimen, like a
small b with a projecting snout on top,
has absolutely no sound whatever, and
is defined as a final mute" In spite Of
Tor, perhaps, on account of it's ST.
lence It Is greatly in evidence, no word
OF any size being considered complete
without it. It's only purpose, apart
from that OF an ornament, seems to
be to warn the reader that the preced-
ing word is in Russian and that he
must not try to pronounce it accord
ing to western rules.
When a foreigner writes his name in
Russian he invariably tacks this final
mute" on TO it. 1t is regarded as
subtle compliment 10 the Russian ma.
ton and doubtless has due weight
with the secret police.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03
FOREIGN GOSSIP.

Tn is9s the tobacco monopoly yield
ed France an income of G2g.00O,000
francs
About onefourth OF all the agrieui-
turists in Wurtemburg. Germany. are
cultiyators OF vineyards
About ten persoss are every YEAR
robbed aud murdered in Russian rail
ways, aud the murderers are seldom
caught.
Il is estimated that tie population
of Berlin will complete the 1000 600
figure 10y the end o. 1902. The present
population is about 1.sfa.o0O.
Rabbit heads with small horns are
exhibited In some Swias taserns for
the mystihcation of tourists. The
horns are affixed To the heads by
clever aud waggish taxidermists.
The British postmaster general has
that ESQ" shall be used in future in
addressing all male correspondents
unless they are evidently lnborers,
personal servants or tradesmen." In
case of doubt the ESQ" must be used.
Depositors in postal savings banks are
not entitled to the ESQ
At London and Bremen the longest
day has l6 hours; at Stockholm and
Dantzig the longest dsy has II hours;
Mt Tobolsk and st. Petersburg the
longest day has 10 hours and the
shortest five hours: at Tornea Tin
land) the longest day is Ella hours
and the shortest 2h hours; at Ward
nuys Norway the day lasts from
May 81 TO July IS without Interrupt
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03
A witty Justice

One day before the late lord chief
justice took sick he was sitting in
court when another barrister, leaning
across the benches during the hearing
Of trial for bigamy, whispered: .'Rus-
SELL. what's the extreme penalty for
bigamy?" Two mothers-in-law," in
stantly replied Russell. On one occa-
sion Lord Russell went TO help the
liberals in certain campaign. He be-
gan his speech with some badly pro-
nounced Scotch. After tn. confusion
caused by. his blunder had subsided
Sir Charles Russell (as he was tben)
said: ''Gentlemen, l do not speak
Scotch, but l vote Scotch Tremen-
dous applause followed. whereupon Sir
Charles proceeded, "and I sonetitnes
drink Scotch" With this his h8zd on
the audience was secured.--London Tit
Bit&
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03
AN INDIAN BAPTISM.
Few Ceremonies Equal 1t in
Solemnity and Interest.
Prof. james Give, a Graphic Aceeunt
of How Hopi Mothers and Fn-
theirs Welcome the Advent
of Little one.

Especial Southern California letter.
m Ii religious peop.e throughout
~ the world generally nave some
Il Il ceremony by which they dedi-
the deity they worship. Among Chris
tians. whether Catholic or Protestant,
this is the ceremony of christening,
in which the child is solemnly dedi-
Gated TO God and its parents or god
parents promise on its behalf that 1t
shall renounce all toe pomps and van
ities of this vain world.
But there are few ceremonies in the
world that equal in solemnity and in
terest. and that are more charming,
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03
shirt waists I'm Africa.

Helen Caddick, one OF the few white
women who have ventured into the
heart Of Africa, has recently written
about her trip from Zambesi to the
great lakes--a trip for pleasure. The
cotton blouses or waists which she
wore were washed and "ironed" by
her native ''boy," and the process was
extraordinary. The laundryInan first
spread a mat on the ground. Next
the clothes to be "ironed" were placed
on 1t and smoothed out as well as pos
sible. Then, placing a towel OF some
large cloth over the garment, he
rubbed his feet back and forth over
II, until he thought 1t was smooth
enough.-Youth's Companion.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03
The caar's MOST Trusted servant

Gen. Alexei Nicolaievich Kuropat-
kin, the Russian minister of war, is
probably the most trusted, the most
powerful and most faithful servant Of
the czar. His rise to rank and power
was gradual but sure, and in 1898 he
was made absolute master, under the
czar, of the armies of all the Russias.
He began his military career in Tur-
kestan when a youth, and has served
with distinction In all Russia's wars
for many years.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03

The famous west gate of Peking has
the thickness of New York city block.
and In the passage through 1t there are
a dozen gates Of different patterns.
someopeningin the middle, some work
ing on hinges and othcrs falling Ike
portculiiscs. The walls rise to a height
of 80 feet, and over the gate Is tens
pie 100 feet high.--lN. X. Sun.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03
The King md III. FoaI.

"Prithee, your majesty, what is ths
difference between yourself and Shakes
peare?"
what is it, fool?"
Because he knew II all and you only
think you do. o."-Indianspolis Sun.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03
A Year of Barraip..

He -0ur expenses this year ara great
er than ever.
Shc--Well, you know there have been
great many more bargains.-.Town
Topics.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03

De Culper-T shouldn't think you
would attend any more dinners. II you
have dyspepsia 80 badly.
Wickston--I've got to the point now
where the only thing that relieves me
Is to eat i4digestible food.-Life.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03
Apologize. All Around.

Mrs. Niblick-You mustn't mind my
husband, Mr.. Won Bunker, if he swears
terribly while he is playing golf.
Won Bunker-ADd you mustn't mind
me, Mrs. Niblick, if take the words
out Of his mouth.-Brooklyn Life.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03
A paar ue..o.

why do you allude to your cousir
ss Miss Trout when that isn't hen
name?' asked Hunker.
~She is a freckied beauty" replied
Spatts.-Town Topics.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03

Customer-But / can't eat thatl
Waitress-Ah, sir, you can't ten
what you can do till you tryi The
cook will be in terribly bad humor Ii
l bring 1t back,-Brooklyn Life.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03
An Optimist.

Catterson-By Joyei Think of for
getting to bring along a rife on
hunting trip
Hatterson-Well, old man, it might
be worse. We might have forgotten
the poker chipsl-Puck.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03

1t is estimated that the population
Of Europe doubles itself every e6<
years.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-05-09
PAINTER co.'s QUEER CLIENT.
How He Induced the Artist 70 Paint a
Dead Mans Portrait.

How He Induced the Artist TO Paint
Dead Mans Portrait.
A new story is being told in Europe
about David Col the Antwerp painter
who died recently. As he was atwork in
his studio one day many years ago there
entered farmer, who requested him
to paint his fathers portrait. The ar
fist, not being oyerburdened with
wealth at that time, gladly agreed to
do the work, and said that he would be
pleased to see the old gentleman at any
time. Thereupoll the farmer said
mournfully:
"ob, you can't see him, sir, for he's
dead"
Then how on earth do you expect me
TO paint his portrait?" asked the artist
with sigh.
"0h. you're fooling me, sir, said the
farmer. Just tell ME whose picture
that is on the easel there
THAT is a portrait of st. Anthony"
was the answer.
lis that really ST Anthony"
YES"
/. Did he sit to your
"Of course not
"Well, then, is,,'C that clear proof
that you are able TO make the portrait
of dead MANI
Col. who wanted money badly. al
lowed himself to be persuaded by this
novel argument, and therefore he OBJ
tanned from the farmer as many par
ticulars about the dead man as he
could, and then, after making sketch
of the son, because he said that he
closely resemDled his father, he began
work On the portrait When it was
finished ne sent for the farmer aud
showed it TO him. To his surprise the
man fell on his knees and began to cry
bitterly, his eyes meanwhile fixed on
the portrait Col fiattered himself that
be had made lifelike portrait, and
that it was the wonderful resemblance
which caused the son to grove so sore
ly.
why DO you cry so much che asked
trying to comfort him,
Oh. my dear sir" was the unexpect-
ed reply, Il never thought that anyone
could change SO much in such short
time. Dear me. how terribly ugly ny
poor father has become"
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-05-09

Blairsyille presbytery Of pennsylvania
wants the creed revised.
The French cruiser Chateau Regauit
made twenty FIVE knots on her speed trial.
Many bliidiuzs have been burned a
Kobe. Japan 10 an effort 10 stop the
piague
John Peterson II. Chicago. beat Of
a big burglar and saved $3.50, he family
savings.
Ar F. Gorgou. Chicago. has sued
The Amity Club Tor $1,000 Alleged
losses 70 poker.
ln dnel near Guthrie o T.. Richard
Moon was killed By John Vandergna
with a poebctknilc.
Foar Siuch rifle mortars have been re-
ceived at Seattle Wash, for the Mar
rowstone Notifications
Dr. f. Benjamin Andrews. Chicago
has accepseJ the chanceIlorship Of The
University Of Nebraska.
Chas. Ro.o5annl. rs. and Florence
Heimsid Philadelphia, committed sui
eide by turning on The gas.
immigration commissioners have rcfus-
FL tie admission II thirty Of fbe 32G
Japs who recently reached Seattle
The Government monopoly ~ ne liquof
business which Rassia began 70 introduce
in 1895 nos, extends 10 thirty-hve dis
tricts. The profits last year amounted 70
321. O00.0J0 rubles.