davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03
POWER OF THE MIND.
illustrated in the Case of Boy
Who Had But One Sense Left.
Orris henson. Deaf, Dumb and Mind
from Bnbyhood. Has Developed
Rare Skill In Many Fields
of Mental Effort.

For IA years Orris Benson has lived
In dense darkness and an absolute ST.
lence, yet he has developed a most
cheerful disposition, more than ordi-
nary capabilities for learning and an
absolute genius as a modeler. For seven
years he has been a pupil In the New
York institution for the instruction of
the deaf and dumb, which he entered
little more than an animated organism,
| with no sense but that of touch. yet
through patient training under the d.
rection of Enoch IL. Carrier. principal,
he has shown a mental growth and per-
ception that are astonishing and are
attracting wide attention.
Orris is 16 years old. He is the son of
a carpenter living at White Lake, Sulli-
van county, n. Y, and when two years
old suffered from an attack Of cerebro-
spinal meningitis that deprived him of
sight, speech and hearing. lie was
helpless. and for years was alone in a
mental darkness as great as the physi-
cal one that surrounded him in his ter
rible silence. Then he was brought 10
New York, and the apparently hopeless
task OF developing mental faculties
that were on the road to idiocy through
neglect was entered upon.
Miss Bessie L. Nixon, says the Cincin-
natl Enquirer, was assigned to instruct
him, and with kindly pressure of the
hand she tried to impress upon his al
most dormant consciousness the fact
that she was his friend, wished him
well, and would do what she could for
him.
With what interest was watched the
slow progress Of kindling the first men
tai spark in that almost isolated mind!
His gentle teacher communicated TO
him certain simple inquiries by NOV
ing her fingers, according TO the man
uel, within the palm of his hand.
At first the pronunciation OF the
words was mechanical, and the mental
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03

been prohibited. A very few excep-
tions have been made in favor OF small
steam launches run under special
charter granted by provincial govern
ors. who, for this unexampled liberal
ity, would pocket a large share Of the
profits. All this will be changed by
the opening of the inland waters to
steamers.
Then, as in Japan, within a genera
tion the clumsy old junks will disap-
pear, and be replaced by steamers Of all
sizes and sailboats of modern pat
tern. Along the coast and on the
large rivers junks are used in great
numbers. They are built Of thick pine
planks, with high stem.
Their tackle is of the rudest, involv-
ing great waste of strength in friction
thus requiring double the number of
sailors. The sails are generally made
of bamboo and cane leaves, though
canvas is now occasionally seen. The
ordinary sea-going junk is Of about
100 TO 200 tonnage; though they make
them as large as /, 900 tons. IL is hard
ly necessary TO add that these crude
vessels are about equal in sailing ca
pacity TO Noahs famous ark, which
was not intended to do any thing but
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03

except Holland. The Grand canal in the
north, and some others, were made for
nayigation; but The plains of central
and south China are covered, when
ever possible. with small shallow cam
ais for irrigation. The water is pumped
from these by treadmill pumps upon
the rice fields, which must be Kept COW
cred with water all the time. But these
canals are also used for transporta-
ton, little fat-bottomed rowboats be-
ing seen everywhere ufon them, car.
rying freight and passengers.
That which impresses the foreigner
most in all this is how utterly obllv-
ious the native methods are TO time.
Two miles an hour is a fair average
rate upon these canals and ~ miles is
medium slow; three miles an hour is
swift dispatch, with strong, fair wind
and light cargo. When we are in a
hurry we walk. Launches of light
draught are sure TO take the place OF
these wretched RATS for passenger traf-
fic in the near future. These well-wa-
tered plains are all very densely popu-
lated, and n swift passenger service
would be well patronized.
WILLIAM ~ BREWSTER
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03
THE PARTING SALUTE.
Now they Say Good-Dy In Europe,
Asia, the Islands OF the Pacific
and Other Places.

The Turk will solemnly cross his
hands upon his breast and make pro-
found obeisance when he bids you fare
well.
The genial Jap will take his slipper off
as you depart and say with a smile:
you are going TO leave my despicable
house in your honorable journeying-
l regard thee!"
In the Philippines the parting bene-
dlction is bestowed in the form OF rub
ling ones friends face with ones hand.
The German "lebe wohl" is not par
ticularly sympathetic in its sound, but
IL is less embarrassing 10 those it speeds
than the Hindu's performance, who,
when you go from him, falls in the dust
at your feet.
The Fiji Islanders cross two red
feathers. The natives of New Guinea
exchange chocolate. The Burmese bend
low and say lib. Hib."
The "Auf wiedersehen" of the Aus
TRANS is the most feeling expression
Of farewell.
The Cuban would consider his good
by anything but a cordial one unless he
was given good cigar. The South Sea
Islanders rattle each others whale
teeth necklace.
The Sioux and Biackfeet will, at part
ing, dig their spears in the earth as a
sign OF confidence and mutual esteem.
This is the origin Of the term, Bury
ing the tomahawk."
In the islands in the straits Of the
Sound the natives, al your going, will
stoop down and clasp your foot.
The Russian form Of parting saluta-
ton is brief, consisting Of the single
word, "praschai," said 10 sound like
sneeze. The 0taheite Islander will
twist the end Of the departing guests
robe and then solemnly shake his own
hands three times.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03
SIX SMITHS IN CONGRESS.
other Names That Are Duplicated ON
the Roll OF the House of Rep
resentatives.

There are six Smiths in the house of
representatives-th from Michigan
and one each from Kentucky, Maryland
and Illinois. There are three Wilson's
ono each from Idaho, New York and
South Carolina. Two members OF the
Williams family come from Illinois and
one from Mississippi, and they are all
democrats. There is n Wheeler frSm
Alabama and one from Kentucky; one
Thomas from North Carolina and an
other from Iowa; three Aliens, from
Maine. Kentucky and Mississippi; two
Baileys, from Texas and Kansas; two
Clarks, from Missouri and New Hamp-
shire; two Claytons, from New York
and Alabama, and they are brothers;
two Cochrans, from Missouri and New
York; two Coopers, from Wisconsin and
Texas; Crump and n Crumpacker;
two Dayenports, both from Pennsylva-
MIA; Fitzgerald from Massachusetts,
and another from New York; n Gardi-
ner from New Jersey and from Michi-
gan; a Green from Pennsylvania and
another from Massachusetts,. There are
three IIenrys-Patrick Henry, from
Mississippii Robert L., from Texas, and
T.. Stevens from Connecticut. The
Jones family has two representatives,
from Virginia and Washington. There
Is Little and a Littlefield, a Meyers
from Louisiana and Meters from Indi-
ana; one Moody fran Oregon and an
other from Massachusetts,; one Norton
from South Carolina and another from
Ohio; a Rhea from Kentucky and from
Virginia.; n Robb from Missouri and a
Robbins from Alabama. There is a Rob-
erts from Massachusetts. as well M
/ from Utah; Robinson from Maine and
Nebraska; a Ryan from Pennsylvania
and from New York: n Stevens from
Texas who spells his name with "ph."
and one from Minnesota who spells IL
with ~" There are three Stewards
I from Wisconsin, New Jersey and New
York-which indicates the poverty OF
! our nomenclature.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03
TIME NOT VALUABLE.
Chinese Do Not Seem to Care Much
for Rapid Transit.
Ebey Travel Contentediy I'm Junks
Making Two or Three Miles
per Hour-sfeambontsF Few
and Far Between.


Especial Hinghua lChina) Letter.l
The statesmen of the powers are
planning the opening OF China to the
commerce of the world. The news
papers are discussing it. The Chi
nese people are expecting 1t, and the
mandarins dreading IL. But not many
people in America have any adequate
idea OF what such an opening will in
volye, either to the outside world or to
the middle kingdom itself. How much
China is shut of from communication
with the rest of the world can only be
realized by knowing her means and
methods of transportation. The ma
tive methods, which are the only kind
that have been permitted in the in
terror, beyond the treaty ports" and
a few exceptions in north China, are
about as crude and laborious as hu-
man stupidity could devise. The
cheapest is, OF course, transportation
by water.
But hitherto all this has been done in
boats or junks of the rudest pattern,
propelled by rowing, towing or sailing.
On what are known as "native waters"
being all the sea-coast, rivers ana can
ais not opened to foreign commerce by
special treaty with the powers, team
xessels, both small and large, have
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03

float; and the original pattern, from
which all have since been made, must
have been designed In the dim remote
past, nearer 10 the times OF that an
Client shipbuilder than TO the present.
These "tubs" can sail with the wind,
AZ they have plenty of IL, and not too
anuch. If the wind Is high, or contrary,
they must put in 20 some sheltered
nook and wait for favorable weather,
which may take a day or month, or
even longer. IL is not TO be marveled at,
then, that there arc. no passenger junks
running from Hinghun by the sea 10
che provincial capital. Foochow, only
20 miles north. II takes As hours TO
trnvel il by land, taking the ferry the
second night, but that is much faster
than these boats are likely 10 make Il.
A small steamer would make the trip
an one night; but the government has
peraistently refused TO allow foreign
built vessels TO run.
Then these junks are the prey OF
pirates that infcst this coast. They
have their haunts on the islands and
inlets of this rough coast. In little
boats, that can be propelled by rowing,
they swarm out upon some large junk
that Is becalmed, They throw fire-balls,
<hey are armed with muzzle-loading
ehotguns and knives and spears. The
crew Il slaugh tered, orsurrendcrs and IL
Sound. oil tn cargo taken. and the boat
ut adrift. This Is often done In broao
daylight The local magistrate gets his
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03

share Of the plumber. and the pirates
are not molested. Occasionally the pro-
vincial government makes show Of
putting stop 10 il, by sending an OFF,
cial. with soldiers, TO the chief CEN
ter OF piracy. But due notice is served
when he is coming, and by the time he
arrives the leaders are conspicuous for
their absence. The less guilty or in
nocent people OF the neighborhood are
caught and beaten, or squeezed" the
official and his train go back enriched,
and piracy is soon worse than ever. This
makes transportation by sea very haz-
ardous.
All these impediments 10 traffic
would be disposed of at once, by the
opening of these ports TO steamers;
and the advantages following would
be very great. The pirates would then
have 10 quit their robbery. They could
not overhaul steamboat.
River navigation in China is carried
on with great industry, IL not skill.
Not only do they use the larger streams,
but the small ones, full of shallow rap
ids over which the boat must be al
most carried by sheer muscle, are used
for freight transportation and passen-
gers. These boats for shallow streams
are made with round bottoms and ends,
20 to 30 feet long, and are pushed by
poles, carried and dragged up the
streams. and float down.
II is n life of miserable brute labor
that these poor bcatmen live. A harder
lot can scarcely be imagined. Yet these
little streams must be used until roads
are built for carts end trains. AS long as
the only competition is the shoulders of
men, even this laborious use of naviga-
tion is the cheapest TO be had.
Canals are more numerous in China
than in any other country in the world.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03
GEN. SCHALKBURGER.
feated Gen. Butler Mt the T'u-
Eeln River Ferry.

Gen. Schalkburger, who is reported to
have taken the place OF Gen. Joubert
during the latter's illness as com
mander in chief of the Boer army,
stands very high as citizen as well as
a soldier in the South African republic.
His selection for such an important Of
flee as military head Of the nation, even
temporarily, was surprising In the
last Transvaal presidential election he
was bitter opponent OF Dom Paul and
ran for the Office of president against
Kruger. The new commander was born
at Lydenburg in 1852. He is grand
son of n voortrekker on whose head
the British government once placed n
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03
ORRIS RENGON
(Blind. Deaf and Dumb Boy Operating a
Typewriting Machine)

effort was devoted merely TO the eff
fecting Of the combination OF sounds.
With persistent practice the boy
learned 10 think out words, the vocal or
gans were trained into use, and then
enunciation came, uncertain al first,
out afterward with sufficient clearness
TO be understood.
After the first certain mental com
munication was established between
teacher and pupil the task became real
ly fascinating. Every month the men
tai growth was such that the teacher
found in the blind deaf boy remarkable
powers Of intellect, and soon he became
the shining light OF the institution. So
it has gone from that day until this,
with remarkable progress at every
step.
Orris Benson has become an expert
modeler in clay, and the most clever
thing he has done is Grants tomb in
miniature. His eyes have not seen the
tomb, and he has not more than touched
its massive columns; but he has faith
fully copied ii, even to the details of or
namentation.
How? lie has not even heard a de-
scription OF IL, but he has seen 1t
through the eyes OF one of his deaf fell
lows, and has been told by fingers as
clever as his how the beautiful struc-
ture looks and how the various details
of its architecture are arranged.
This information, carried through
the fingers and palm. formed n definite
and mainly correct mental picture,
which the sightless boy has reproduced
in plastic clay showing wonderful per.
ception and mechanical skill.
This is really n wonderful thing when
we consider that the boy knows abso-
lutely nothing OF the appearance OF
buildings, either in general effect or
proportions, excepting such informa-
ton as is conveyed 10 him through the
sense of touch. lie has no memory Of
sights before he was blind. as his mind
was practically n blank when his edu-
cation was begun seven years ago.
This tomb is the last OF the boys
works in clay. the first thing being n
rather rudely executed key, the forming
of which gave him intense delight. IL
has been the same with his other mod
els. The creation Of them has given the
modeler great pleasure as he has felt
them grow into shape under his fingers.
TO his other accomplishments he has
added the typewriter. on which he is a
most rapid and correct operator. sell
dom. making a mistake. lie is quite
proud Of this accomplishment. His
hours at work are given principally TO
Gaming chairs. al which he Is an expert,
and at which he will probably earn his
living when he is graduated.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03
cago in seai

being graduated from the common
schools and an academy In his native
state. He obtained position as clerk
in the dry goods house OF Field, Letter
q Co., where he remained until after
the fire of 1871. In 1872 he became
a salesman in the Wholesale establish
ment of John V. Farwell & Co. He
was ambitious to begin a professional
career, and at the end of two years
commenced reading law with the firm
of Harvey, Anthony d Gait. He was
admitted TO the bar in 1874.
He soon took an active part in POI
litcal matters. and in 1898, when the
number of circuit court judges was
increased, lie received the republican
nomination and was elected for four
years. In June, 1897, he was reelected
for the full term of six years. His
capacity for work is shown by the
fact that last year he finally disposed
of 1,452 cases.
In 1876 Judge IIanecy married Miss
Sarah Barton, daughter OF William II.
Barton. His family consists of six
girls. The youngest was born on the
day that Mckinley was elected presi-
dent. The Judge and his family are
members of Grace Episcopal church.
He lives at BIG Michigan avenue. The
judge belongs to the Hamilton. Union
League and Washington Park clubs.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03
MAGICAL TIMEPIECE.
Interesting Specimen OF Neurological
Machinery Exhibited by New
York Jewclcr.

In the window of his establishment a
jeweler has placed a clock face which
tells the hour OF the day, says the New
York Herald. The hands appear to be
connected in no manner with the works
or any part Of the clock, and yet they
move around the face so as 10 always be
in the proper place to tell the time. A
look nt this clock conveys TO the OBJ
server the idea that there are only n dial
and two indices made OF aluminium.
The minute hand is left the natural col
or Of aluminium, but the hour hand is
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03

The latest use TO which bicycles have
been applied is tiger hunting. A paper
published in British India gives an ac-
count OF this startling innovation. A
pig, IL appears. was carried away by a
tiger from a coffee estate in Castle
wood, in the state of Johore. "rhe news
having been sent to Johore," runs the
report, the sultan's trackers were out
on bicycles by midday and located the
tiger in some low shrub within half a
mile OF the shed. The sultan himself
rode out at four o'clock, and after a
short beat OF half an hour large tiger
was driven out OF the shrub and fell to
one well-placed shot by the sultan
through the tigers forehead"
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03
ELBRIDGR G. HANEcY.
Distinguishes Chicago Judge Who
wants 10 Succeed Tanner as
Governor OF nIinots.

Like his running mates in the re-
publican race for governor OF Illinois.
Judge Elbridge @. Hanecy has made
his own way in the world. lie was
born on a farm in Dodge county, Wis,
40 years ago. He comes of New Eng
land stock, and was named after FL
bridge Gerry. one of the signers OF
the Declaration of Independence. His
father. who died when the son was
one year old, served through the
Mexican war.
In 1869 young Hanecy came 10 Chi
cage in search Of employment. after
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03

Experiments in the Sibley laboratory
nj Cornell university have shown that
an alloy of aluminium and zinc pos
sesses remarkable qualities. II Is white
and takes n fine finish. and Is equal in
strength TO cast-iron. but superior In
elasticity. On the other hand, IL melts
az so low temperature that IL can be
liquefied In ladle over an open fire.
Intbc liquid form II fills mold, run.
ming into all the small parts much bet
Ter han brass. but II Is more brittle
than brass. Its use does away with the
foundry furnace. and its technical adj
vnniases are Obvious. The strength Of
this metal Is 10000 pounds per square
inch.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03

price Of 800. lie is described as a
man largely self-taught, but a deep
thinker and an orator who frequently
sways the Rad by his calm logic. In
the war of independence he served as a
field cornet al the head OF a district of
burghers. lie was decorated by the
king of Portugal with the Order 90
Jesus Christ for a speech Mt Delagoa
Bay on the relations between Portugal
and the Transvaal. He is now mem
Der OF the executive council. and al
though not very rich is one of the mort
influential Beers in South Africa.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03
RIDING HOME.

my feet's tired" said little Richard.
When walking out one day
'Youll have TO carry me, papa.
All the rest Of the way
why. you're too big to be carried"
Said papa. Where's your pride?
IL you can't walk any farther,
Just take my cane and ride"
So the steed Dick mounted quickly
And galloped of with glee.
"Riding Is eastern walking,
I'll soon get home" said he.
--Lida c. Tulloch. In Youths Companion
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03

man he will not think the word so hard
to master after all. From having found
remains of the glyptodon in the Pleisto-
Gene deposits the scientific men know
that the great animal was living just
before the human species came into ex-
istence.
At the Cincinnati museum of natural
history in Broadway there is life-size
cast or restoration of the remains OF
the glyptodon, and a very wonderful
thing il is, and something well worth
seeing. The picture gives an idea Of its
appearance, but il should be seen to be
appreciated. The shell Of the arma-
dillo, il will be remembered, is made
up OF buckler-like plates, so that when
he wishes to decline himself 10 company
he can roll himself up and present moth
ing but his hard shell to the world. The
glyptodon, however, differs from the
armadillo in that his shell, or carapace,
is composed of one solid piece, and n
very big piece II is. Indeed, il IL was
turned over the shell would make very
nice bathtub. large and deep enough
for several little boys 10 swim in. The
facial portion OF the skull is very short;
the limbs are very strong and the feet
are short and broad, resembling, exter-
nally, those Of the elephant or the tor
toise.
There are many entertaining things
to be seen at the museum OF natural his
tory, both for this student and the
casual observer, and the cast OF the
glyptodon skeleton is not among the
least interesting. Cincinnati CONNER
cial Trihune
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03

In China hens are employed 10 hatch
fish eggs. These are sealed in an egg
she'll and placed under the unsuspect-
ing hen for few days. The contents
of the shell are then emptied into a shall
low pool, where they can bask in the
sunshine until the minnows are strong
enough 10 be turned into a lake or
river
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03

A manufacturer OF certain machinery
In England inserts an advertisement in
some of the technicar periodicals in
which he uses French, Spanish. German
and japanese side by side.
The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-03

Life Is a race: the goal Ia round the bend;
Blesi he whose legs hold out unto the end
Chicago Record.