davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

It is interesting to know the modeT1 methods of banishing mans common enemy, insomnia. It is doubly interest ing to learn of the ways by which women court the sweet restorer." The revelations made upon this subject by the members of a woman's club are interesting and unique, and the fact that these ladies invite sleep by per hitting their thoughts to dwell upon clothes does not prove that such sub tects are uppermost in a woman's mind, but simply that they are the least disqUieting. Shakespeare himself was thinking about clothes when he said that 1t was the office of sleep to knit up the raveled sleeve of care Of course this method of wooing sleep is suitable to but one sex, and no one would be foolish enough to sug- gest that a man could frighten away insomnia by thinking of his wife's wardrobe, or by mentally hanging up the various articles which have haunt cu HIS WlQe-dWdke ldCu4llcS III lAS AOA III of that enemy of sleep, bill. One distinguished man, the Poet Words worth, thus described his conflict with balmy sleep:
 A flock of sheep that leisurely pass by,
 One after one; the sound of rain, and
 bees
 Murmuring; the fall of rivers, winds,
 and seas.
 Smooth fields, white sheets of water, and
 pure sky,
 By turns have ali been thought of, yet l
 lie
 Sleepless.
 This would seem to point to the fact that mans thoughts dwell upon i'm things when he is inviting sleep, while a woman's turns to per sonal vanities. But a mans vanities are of so disturbing a kind that he dare not think about them. So let him think of sheep.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

An old snowman in Philadelphia has made something of study of cases of longevity in his profession and has drawn some interesting conclusions. The first man to die, he says, is the professional strong man," who rarely lasts over five years. Most of the strong men die of consumption before they are 40. On the other hand men who use their lungs are abnormally, or rath- CT normally, long lived. Ventriloquists and minstrels are said never to die. After the burnt cork artist has had his day in the theaters, he Is found in the dime museums "doing his stunt" just as well as he did it in the early '40s. The snowman named above was able to point out several minstrels still in the business who were over 70 years old and who did not show many of the ravages of age. The conclusion seems to be that the man who cultivates his muscles exclusively dies early, but the man who cultivates the breath first and the muscles secondarily, lives. The Hindus, whose religion covered many such points, used to claim that longev- lty depended on ''the doctrine of the breath" The person who knew how to use the vital breath simply couldn't die until he was rea6g. Instead of being forced out of the world through the oocr of disease the adept simply walk
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29
Al Wind That RIeyv

"You call this a stiff March wind ?'' remarked my friend, Dan Weyrich, the other evening. "Why, this is nothing. This Is southern spring zephyr com pared with what We used to get when I was a boy. We were living then over on the farm. Our house was set in a very exposed place on a small hill. When the March wind blew she rocked that house like a small skiff in a gale at sea. slept then in bed on rollers. Many a night in March was awaken. ed by the rolling of the bed all round the room. It would bang against all four walls, making such a noise that sleep was well nigh impossible"
 "What did you do then?" I ventured to ask.
 "What could I do," said Dan, "but sleep on the floor and hang on to the bed to keep 1t from rolling. It was sleeping under difficulties, I'll admit, but then we didn't have many nights like that" t"-Albany Journal.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29
5Cfef1Ce E& 40
 SzgII1velltI0rl.
-o@O~OOO

The fastest of the thousands oi
 clouds whose speeds were measured by Prof Bigelow was darting thraagf the upper air at the enormous velocity
 of 19S miles an hour. This was a cir
 rocumulus cloud-one of the mackerel
 sky class-observed in December.
 The spider shields itself in winter
 by weather-proof covering ot SIX,
 but some kinds come out for an airing
 occasionally, and even take scamper across the snow. The trap door spldef passes the entire season deep in the
 ground in his winter house of spun silk.
 Wearers of glasses are frequently annoyed in cold weather by the deposit of moisture that forms on the glass upon entering a warm room. According to a German technical journal, sim ple preventive of this annoyance is the rubbing of the glasses with soft potash soap every morning. After the soap is applied the glasses can be polished bright, the invisible film that remains sufficing to prevent the deposit of moisture.
 Some attempts have been made to boom liquid air commercially, but without encouragement from scientific periodicals. A London paper says: "One of the greatest difficulties to be contended with in the practical appli- cations of liquid air is that of keeping it for length of time. According to MT. Carl Linde, small quantities may ",s preserved in well-exhausted and sil- Vered double-walled glass vessels for relatively long time.
 Diamonds have been found in con- siderable numbers and of very fine quality in tEe interior of British iIUiana, on the Mazaruni River, 250 HIiles above its junction with the Esse- quibo. Mir. Moulton, our consul at Demerara, says that the London deal CTS to whom the stones have been for warded consider them superior to South African diamonds and equal in quality to those of Brazil. The present diggings are situated in a tropical jungle five miles from the river, and the region is not easily reached. The matrix from which the gems have be- come scattered is now the object of search.
 The sea has flowers as the land has, but the most brilliant of the sea-flOw- CTS bloom not upon plants but upon animals. The living corals of tropical seas present display of floral beauty which in richness and vividness of color and variety and grace of form rivals the splendor of a garden of flowers. The resemblance to vegetal blossoms is so complete that some per sons find it difficult to believe that the brilliant display contains no element of plant life, but is wholly animal in its organization. Among tfNksea ami mals which bloom as if they were plants are included, besides corals, the sea-anemone and the sea-cucumber. pr. c. M. Blackford, Jr., remarks that among the coral gardens the birds and butterflies of the upper world are re- placed by fishes of curious forms and flashing cOlors, which dart about among the animal flowers.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29
BILL SMITH CAME ON TIME.
Two sharpers Get the Better of Third
 in a Confidence Game.

Two sharpers Get the Better of Third in a Confidence Game.
 The best confidence man that ever perambulated down the pike was in Memphis last week and did some smooth business of the bunko variety, according to the Commercial-Appeal. The victim in the case was king-bee Memphis confidence man who thinks he is more than 1.-two or three," and who happened to be out looking for hay seeds.
 The confidence man dropped into a certain hotel in Memphis to lay for prey, and had gotten himself up to pass for commercial traveller. Pretty soon hayseed Rube of the most harmless looking type came into the hotel lobby and glared through his spectacles at the men sitting around. Failing to see the face he was looking for the old Rube stood a moment in the center of the floor and then walked over to the clerks desk. He took a long-range chance at the cuspidor and missed, and then, addressing the clerk, asked: Has Bill Smith been here looking for meT
 The clerk looked up and, seeing a chance for some fun, began to humor the old man.
 The Memphis shark grew interested and drew near. Soon the whole hotel knew the old mans story. Bill Smith was stranger he had met in the morn ing who had borrowed $50 from him to pay a freight bill, promising to meet Rube at the hotel and pay 1t back. Rube was certain he would be in soon, because it was now past the appointed time.
 The old mans apparent innocence amused the crowd and he was advised to go on and forget Bill Smith, as he would never see Bill any more. The old man replied good -humoredly that he guessed he would wait while for Bill, and, winking at the crowd, he pulled out well-flled wallet with the remark that he had plenty left if Bill should go back on his word.
 The eyes of the Memphis shark glist- ened at the sight of the wallet, and ap- preaching Rube, he began to manifest the tenderest sympathy in his case, and assured him that Bill Smith was a ras- cally thief, and that the town was full of such sharks.
 Rube grew nervous under the repeat ed filings at his friend Bill Smith, and In his excitement pulled his money and swore he would bet every dollar of it on Smiths honesty.
 Well" said the Memphis shark, "Pll just bet you $50 that Smith don't show up with your money"
 Reuben took the bet, and, with trem- bling fingers, pulled out the fifty, and the stakes were put in the hands of the clerk.
 After this Rube grew silent and nerv- ously paced up and down the lobby. Presently, as Rube was standing some distance from the desk, pensively roll ing his quid and gazing through the skylight, smartly dressed man walk ed briskly through the door and up to the clerks desk, eyeing the bystanders critically as he passed. Seizing a pen, he rapidly wrote on the register, 'Wllliam J. Smith, Hushpuckana, Miss"
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29
ANCIENT ENGLISH BRIDGES
They Have Survived Times Ravage
 and Remain PracticaIIw Tr+ac+

They Have Survived Time's Ravages
 and Remain Practically Intact.
 The old Bow bridge built by Queen Matilda at Stratford-atte-Bow in the twelfth century, survived till lately in much-restored condition; the charge Of it was given by its builder to A reIig- ious house near by. It was a simple stone structure of three arches and was not only often in bad repair, but was used by it's keepers to extort money from passengers.
 From the frequency with which the prefix bridge occurs in the names of places one might imagine that many of our towns and villages have been nam- ed from their bridges, and such Is in deed often the case, but in many other instances the prefix comes really from the name of St. Bride, or Bridget, one of the most popular of Celtic saints.
 At another Stratford, that situated on the Avon and destined to world wide fame, there was in Leland's time poor bridge of timber, so insecure that many poor folks and other refused to come to Stratferd when Avon was up, or commynge thither, stood in jeopar- 1 dye of lyfe." It remained for Sir Hugh of Clopton, once mayor of London, to erect the existing fine structure, which, says Leland hath fourteen great arch es of stone and long causey made of stone, low-walled on each side, at the west end of the bridge" This was the bridge that Shakespeare knew and to all intents and purposes 1t IS the bridge that still stands.
 Another bridge existing is interesting in that we possess the original contract by which 1t was built. After giving bridge of Chatterick should be built, the document ends: "And ye saidea John, Tho. and Bob. schalle this for said brigge sufficiently in masoncraft make and fully per-furnish in all par tiez and holy endyd be ye Fest of Saint Michele ye Archangelie quilk vt shalle fall in ye yere of our Lords Code Nile; CCCCXXV." The price for this YorLt shire bridge Is also stipulated.
 Sometimes the maintenance of bridges was provided for by tolls, some times by aims, sometimes by the church's indulgences. Persons ire Quently contracted to keep a certain bridge in order in return for the toll. and in those days, 1t goes without say ing, the exacting of the toll was more vigorously exercised than the repara- tion of the bridge. A form of applica- tion for such rights exists, whose date is sprobably the early fourteenth century It is as follows: ''To our lord the King prays his vassal, William of Laytmer, lord of Yarum, that he will grant him pontage for five years at the bridge of Yarm, which is broken down, where wont to pass with carts and with horses on the Kings highway between the wa ter of the Tees toward Scotland. May it please him to do this for the soul of | Madame his consort, who is to God com mended, and for the common profit of | the people who pass" The application i was granted - London Household f Words
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29
SOME QUUER COST MARKS.
Ten-Letter Woris and Phrases Chosen
 as Secret Signs.

Te1-Letter Woris and Phrases Ihosec
 as Secret Signs.
 Among the old-time features Whlcf are disappearing from the city stores because of the modern methods IS tht cabalistic cost mark which the mer chant once thought as indispensable as the counter over which he sold h'S wares.
 The man who started business 1ol himself devoted many hours berore ne made his first display of wares te making up" cost mark. This had te be unlike any other mark, and was, II some instances, composed of ten hier oglyphics, often of transposed figures and more often of word or two, the letters of which could be used to ex press figures. A large wholesale con cern in New York used the mark 'God save us,'' and made up the tenth figure with cross. Through this business house the piouS cost mark became known all over the country. Clerks from the establishment entered the mercantile field on their own account and took the cost mark with them, and within few years it was In use in nearly every state in the Union.
 Another cost mark which found many admirers was Make profit" and this was only trifie more popular than "Ouick trade" "Johny Miles" served as a sign as we'll as cost for one con- cern, and one sentimental Irishman who opened linen store in New York in the days when Niblo's garden was 'away up town" chose as his cost mark My Bridget O."
 When the campaign of 1860 was at it's height an ardent Republican in Bos- ton, in whose store cost mark was in use that had been invented by his grandfather, marked all his goods ovef in order to use the mark, "Abe must win," and this mark remained in use for years after "Abe" had won the fight against Douglas, Breckinridge, and Bell, who were all candidates against Lincoln. About that time the cost mark "Hit Douglas" was invented, and that and Republican" are still in use in places where plain figures have not superseded the puzzle marks.
 A large dry-goods house, which had the patronage of hundreds of pack, basket, and wagon peddlers, used as cost mark the words, "Revoch Gilt" a YiddiSh phrase, which means Profit tells," and the translation was also used by the same concern.
 ''These marks were useful" said the manager of one of the large New York drygoOds stores, "when houses had an asking and taking price. In those days a man behind the counter had to know what the goods cost to put on the shelf so that he could regulate himself accordingly. An offer to split the diff ference when one price was asked and another offered could be entertained then, and salesmen were often compel led to shade prices. We will do this for you,' and It's the last we have of the lot or We want to make cus- toner of you were among the reasons given for coming down on prices; but all the time the salesman had the cost mark before him, and knew that he was on the safe side. e."-New York Tri- huno
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

In some climates and under excep- tional conditions cremation is the only hygienic mode of disposal of the dead. A few years ago there was a considera- ble revival in its advocacy for all coun- tries and occasions. Preference for its swiftness and cleanliness will continue to prevail to limited extent Recourse to its completeness for concealment of crime in hastening death has become so frequent in northern attitudes that laws may be necessary requiring a cor Oner's certificate as a preliminary to lncineration of human remains. For the mass of the bereaved it will always seem kindliest to follow the ancient counsel of ''earth to earth"
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

A complete list of the things named n honor of Queen Victoria would not only show the esteem in which she was held, but would also suggest how much of the worlds progress had taken place during the period covered by her reign. The great Australian state bearing her name recalls the history-making devel- opments in that quarter of the globe; the Victorian triumphs of exploration are typifed by the discovery of great lakes in Central Africa, one of which commentaries her name. The famous bridge at Montreal, the beautiful park on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, and some at least of the sixteen Vic torias In the United States, are among the interesting North American memo rials. It is great advantage for a sovereign to possess a name not identi- aed with anybody else, for then the things named in her honor will indicate to all the future about the time in the history when they came into being.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

A woman reformer recently pulled from the folds of her gown a soiled and ragged American flag and waved 1t be fore the audience, saying that she had waved it from public platforms in ev- cry country of Europe. "More's the pity" murmured a much-loved general, who had lost his arm in fighting under that emblem. Those who see in our flag liberty and justice and moderation do not necessarily wave 1t above their heads; but perhaps they will sustain it long after those who every day wrap themselves ostentatlously in its folds have dropped to the rear.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29
A Girls View of It.

Gayboie-Only one; just little one.
 Miss Townley-Oh, no; have no de sire to be added to the list of girls you have kissed.
 Gayboie-I have never kissed a girl in my life.
 Miss Townley-Oh, then I am not going to let you serve your apprentice ship on me.-Harlem Life.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

Squares of consecutive numbers. as o. l. 2. 3. 1. etc. may be formed by the simple rule: To the square of the pre- eeding number add the preceding num- Der and the number Itself. Thus:
 O=0
 Is=o+o4l=1
 22=l4I42=S
 Sz=s4243=9
 fs=efS4s=l6 The algebraic proof Is:
 UtDs=xs+2x+l
 =xstxt(xfD
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

A woman physician in the East out with some strong arguments to prove the beneficial results of going without breakfast. At the same time It will have to be admitted that there are good arguments that favor total abstinence from all meals-if you don't mind results.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

ed out. Whether the minstrel by some knack has acquired the use of this vital breath or not, the evidence is at present inconclusive. But some of his jokes and "gagS" of 184O to 1870 seem to be of the non-dying variety. Even if they do die, apparently, it is only a change of form for them. They become reincarnated and live out another phy- sical life with the new generation.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29
Progress in Railroad Building.

In 1890 there were 900 miles of railroad in the United States; in 1900 there were 19O, ,S93 miles. The value of railroad securities in 1890 was SC, ,5O0,- 100000; in 1900 1t was $11, 1892, ,OOO, ,O0O. In 1890 31, 300 locomotives pulled 1000 900 cars; in 1900 S7,OOO locomotives pull ed 100000 cars of larger capacity. Tn 1890 the railroad earnings were S525,- 100000; in 1900, $1, 1886, 6,OOO,OOo. with a general reduction in freight and pas senger rates.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29
AN OLD KENTUCKY
 BREEDER ILL.

News comes from Lexington. Ky. that Maj. Barah G. Thomas, one of the oldest breeders of thoroughbreds iR Kentucky, is dangerously i'll at his home there.
 He is the only horseman now living who saw the famous Wagner-Grey Eagle race at Louisville in 1889, and
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

The Columbia University has bought c book valued at $240 in a secondhand bookstore in Paris for 40 cents. This transaction will have a tendency to make the Paris bookseller appreciate the value of the higher education.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29
OrerIn Sweden.

"Over in Sweden the suburban raIl, way lines have to provide a freight car for intoxicated persons"
 'fI don't suppose they label 1t that way, do they?"
 ''I don't know. Probably they brand 1t either Spirits in packages or else Hardware"
 ''Hardware?"
 "Yes. Skates" = Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

The Englishman who tried to swindle Dr. Hadley found that along with his other degrees the alert, if scholarly, president of Yale is entitled to that of U. T. S.-symbolic capitals. of course, for Up to Snuff.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

A converted Chicago levee character says that his prayer for work was quickly answered. When a man gets Into the frame of mind when he really desires work and Is not too particular as to the kind, so it is honest, he will be surprised to find how readily he can secure a job.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29
Not So Rad.

"Norah, will you marry me whin come back from the war;" demanded MT. Herlihy of his sweetheart.
 Its mesilf that's not prepared to give me answer now," said Norah, with a coy smile. "I'll have it ready when you're coming home, Jim"
 Well, that's not so bad" said MT. Herlihy, after a moments reflection "Just tell me the wan thing now dar. lint-will 1t be yis or nor"
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29
Curious Optical Illusion.

Among optical illusions one of the most curious is the ring trick" It con sists of four rings so drawn that if held yard or two away and looked at stead fly for few moments it will appear
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

he has witnessed nearly every import ant turf event in America since then He was for years the owner of the fa- nous Dixiana Farm, which was named for the first race mare he ever owned. and has bred scores of noted perform CTS. Among these are Domino, COrree- ton. Ban Fox, King Fox, Himyar' Banburg, etc. He sold King Thomas to the late Senator Hearst, or CsiH fornia, for $3S,OOO, the highest price ever paid in this country for a year ling.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

The only time a mother calls her children by their names, as they are written in the family Bible, Is when she calls them to spank them.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

A man has issued a pamphlet on the Mission of Wealth" With all respect to the author, the main trouble with most folks is the omission of wealth.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

In spite of recent highly profitable transactions, Jupiter" Morgan still smokes cigars that cost only $1.25 apiece.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

There is a god for sale in London that Is 1,7O0 years old and has a cats eye. Somebody ought to buy him for mouser.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

One of the funniest things in the world is to see woman going to the train who Is not running.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

A man will throw his life into the bal ance for love; a woman will throw vitriol for it.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29
o. E. oversou. Publisher

It would be interesting to read An drew Carnegie's morning mail these days.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

Rebecca at the Well isn't as inter esting picture to most people as one would be of the Plumber at the Ily- 1rant.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

The ideal man compares a woman with a fading flower every time she is looking yellow with bilious attack.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

It's a pretty tough proposition, whether you keep house or board.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

There are always more early birds than worms.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-06-29

as if they had changed and turned in- side out.
 This is difficult trick to explain. It Is simply one of those strange decep- tions which lead us to believe that while we are looking at an inanimate object it undergoes some inexplicable alteration.