davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
Superstitions Of Mer.

Nearly all great men have had sup
erstitions OF some sort or other. Napo-
leon with his star Bismarck with his
Great Dane, Franklin with his lucky
stone-in this manner the list might
be continued on down to today.
DR.. Johnson's superstition was the
touching of all the ironposts he passed
on the streets. He believed that to fail
to touch single post would give him
bad luck, and on discovering such Il
failure he would turn back, no matter
what his hurry, and make good his
omission.
Napoleon believed that q certain rcd
and fiery star governed his destiny.
When this star was brilliant and large
Napoleon pushed forward his enter
prises resolutely, confident of success
When it waned and paled Napoleon
despaired.
General Grant was pursued all his
life by dreams of crocker. These
dreams brought him good luck. In his
letters to his wife they are mentioned
frequently.
Benjamin Franklin carried round
white stone. He would undertake no
important business if this object was
not in his pocket. He believed as i'm
plicitly in its occult power as the
heather believes in the wood and stone
to which in his blindness, he bows
down.
The poet Tennyson had great re-
spcct for the power of the number thr-
teen. He blamed the failure of his last
poetical drama to the fact that, on the
night of its presentation. he made one,
for the first time in his life, of party
of thirteen at dinner.-Phiadclphia
Record,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
The BaId.Headed Nobleman.

One of the most striking results of
boarding school education in this coqln.
try is the way in which mere men and
women are being banished into limbo.
Every human being nowadays is either
lady" or gentleman | read the
other day in a so-called society journal
of lady authoress," which deserves
to be bracketed with our old friend,
the lady laundress," and recalls the
story of certain peeress, who, having
occasion in a shop in Regent street to
refer to something she had bought the
previous day, was asked: who
served you, m'lady? Was it the tall
gentleman or the gentleman with
beard?" 1T wasn't either" she re-
piled, ut was the nobleman with the
bald head."-London Taller.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17

HeCker is outspoken in his objec-
tiols to the methods pursued in the
so.called hardening" of children by
the means of cold dCuches or baths.
AS rule children thus treated are
mere susceptible to nasal catarrhS,
throat affections. bronchitis and pull
munary inhammalions than those who
have not been subjected to the hard
ening" process. Furthermore, such
measures frequently give rise to pro
bounced anaemia and various disor-
ders OF the nervous system. Children
so hardened" are especially prone 10
acute and chronic intestinal disorders.
While in healthy children properly
conducted hardening" process Is Oft
en- OF advantage, it must be remem-
0ercd that there are no hard and fast
rules, and that every case must be
treated according to the individual in
dications. The fundamental princi-
pies of a proper hardening system
are as follows: Cd Gradual aCclima-
ton to the air of the room; (2), grad
ual acclimatiCn to ourdCor air; CD
gradual acclimation to cold water;
a suitable Clolhing-varied accord
ing to the weather and time of year.
Great care should he observed in ac-
climating the child TO cold water, and
the effects of the same should be care
tuliy watched. the endeavors being at
once suspended on the first appearance
of any uufayurablC symptoms.
On no account should any o. the
hardening moa Urrs" be commenced
until the nursing period is passed
and III all cases he process should be
one of gradual advauccment.-Ncw
York Medical Record.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
A Chip of the Old Block.

Army and Navy officers are enjoying
hearty chuckle over the discontinue
of a well known retired officer who is a
familiar figure at several clubs. This
officer has a son of considerable prom
Use, but, of tender years. A few years
ago. so the story goes. the officer mar
ried fortune, and soon after discovered
that lie had heart disease, and went on
the retired list.
Jack" said visitor to the son the
other day, "what are you going to be
when you grow up?"
WELL" said the eight year-old, with
grave elaboration, 1--WE been thinking
of that for some time, and think that
when I'm a man I'll get heart disease
and go on the retired list, just like
Dapa.'-New York Tribune.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
Plants of Crystal.

The popular idea of 4 plant as an
object rooted to one spot and bearing
leaves and something corresponding
to flower and fruit upon its stem is
totally contradicted by the curious
structures here described. For these
crystalline plants, the Diatoms have
no root, stem, leaf, blossom, or fruit:
and, fur from being stationary, the
majority of them move about with rs
much freedom as animals. Yet they
are true plants, simple in life habits
AMI low in the scale of nature, but
characterized by such unmistakable
plant qualities that there can be no
doubt of their right to place in the
vegetable world.
They are all aquatic, and doubtless
The most cosmopolitan of all the aqua
tics. From the polar region to the
tropics, from the deep ooze Of the sea-
beds to the tiny pool on the mountain.
top, in all lakes and streams, in clear
springs and in stagnant puddles Of
DOGGY Observation-Disclosures daylight
and q constant supply of waters are
found, there Is sure to he the home OF
some kinds OF these plants. Each i'll.
dividual is, as a rule, far too minute
to be seen by the naked eye, and it is
only by the aid of the microscope that
we discover in what seems like I'M
slightly slime a repository of gems to
which the Green Vault OF Dresden is
quite inferior. In fact. among the
more than $500 species OF Diatoms
many are so small that company of
several hundred could well be assem-
bled on the head of common pin;
while the markings that adorn their
surfaces have long been the highest
test for the finest lenses. Professor
Albert Mann in Harper's.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
ConviCts in PantOmIlne

Old convicts are, beyond all other
men, skilful in expressing their desires
by gestures and movements of the lips
and eyes. At chapel and exercise and
in the quarries and workrooms the fac.
ulties of men forbidden to talk, and
with years of silence before them are
stimulated to the utmost, and, without
uttering a single word, these men con-
trive to indulge in lengthy conversa-
tons. At chapel, particularly. men sit
ting widely apart can read each 9th.
er's lip movements with the utmost
ease and accuracy. OF course, certain
signs mean certain things to all old
convicts, but in many cases no precon-
certcd signs whatever are uscd-pure
pantomime being INDUCED in.-The
Family Doctor.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
tables Never Get Scnsick.

"Habics never get seasick. l have
carried thousands Of them in my time"
said an American line steward to the
Philadelphia Record, ana In rough
weather | have seen their fathers,
mothers, brothers and sisters keel over
like soldiers before a cannon ball; but
not so with the babies. Whether 1t be
rough or smooth at sea. a baby is al
ways an excellent sailor-rOsy, jolly
and with the appetite Of a horse. Do
you know the explanation of this sim
gular fact? 1t is as simple as the fact
is strange. Babies don't get seasck be.
cause they are accustomed to the rock.
ing of the cradle. That movement is
much like the rocking of a ship. A
baby aboard ship, therefore, is merely
a baby in an unusually big cradle,
and there is nothing odd to him about
the rocking, for it is what he has been
accustomed to all his life"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
Took His Lawyers Advice.

Thirty years ago." says a we'll
known criminal lawyer of Chicago,
there was row of hitching racks
and almost always there We're num-
bel of horses tied to them.
One LAY ! vas passing through a
court room when the Judge called to
me
Mr. lie said, 4 am going to
appc int you to defend this man here.
who is penniless and is charged with
stealing . horse
81 wasn't pleased with the appoint
ment, but | had to lake it. 50 asked
the court to give me chance to have
few minutes talk with my new eli
cnt Tie Judge sent us into his pri-
vate chamber to talk the case over
There was door opening from this
room into the public hall, on the first
door of the building, My new client
vas a villainous looking man.
What evidence have they got
against you? asked.
The man stole the horse from Is
out there in the court room he said
"Anybody else ready to testify
against ycu?'
Ives, couple of men who saw me
steal The horse are also out there
Any other witness?
eyes, the man sold the stolen
horse to is out there, too
"'Well [ SAID to him with smile,
it strikes me that you don't want a
lawyer at all. What you need is an
other horse
Say, partner said my client,
that's bully advice you're giving me.
I'll just take it,
And before | could do anything to
stop MIN he had dashed out of the
door leading to the street, had jumped
on horse. standing at the rack and
lden away at full gallop.
Il ran in and told the court what
had happened. and he started the po-
lice out after my friend. They caught
him before he got outside the city linn
its. But | still think my advice was
the best possible under the circum.
stances. Chicago Tribune.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
Followed Mothers Precept,

One day little boy asked his mother
if he could have the pudding which
was left from dinner.
NO" said his mother; ut will do
for your dinner tomorrow
Soon afterward he heard his mother
say to the cook: Never put off till
tomorrow what you can do today.
Next day at dinner time his mother
went into the pantry after the pud-
ding. Seeing it was not there she asked
her boy If he had seen it.
Yes" the boy bravely replied, 81
ate it yesterday"
didn't | tell you you were not to
eat it till today" said his mother.
But" said the boy, Il heard you
tell the cook, never to put off till to-
morrow what you can do today so
thought had to do the ame.'-Spare
Moments.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
THE ASSAY OF ARTHUR.
How He Achieved the Adventure No
Other Man Might Hope to Compass.

Then, in all the hush of that Won
der-stricken multitude of royal and
lordly folk, did that one youth-crim-
son clad, like tiame-ascend the step
that led to the anvil. And as he as
"onhad the steps, 10. sunbeam fell
through crevice of the canopy ana
smote upon his head, so that his hair
and his budding beard shOne like a
glory, and the fllet of gold upon his
brows shot forth spark like unto q
star. So in goodly wise did lie APP
proach the great assay.
And. now, setting his knee to the
anvil, he grasped the hilt of the Glave
with his sinewy hands; he bent his
frame to the assay, and drew. Then,
10, as once before, but now in the plain
sight of all the world, the shining
blade slid slowly and smoothly out from
its iron matrix, and, behold, Arthur
held it in his hands within the sight
of all!
A moment there was dead and per-
feet silence; then, like a thunderciap.
there burst forth in one great shout
the sound of an hundred thousand
voices uplfted in deafening acclama-
ton. And then, as though wind of
fury had smitten it, that whole great
multitude arose from where it sat
in a tumult of tossing arms, of way
ing hands, and of shouting lips. For
10! the sword was drawn! The mira
Gle had been achieved within the sight
of all!
Thrice Arthur whirled the sword
about his head, flashing like lightning
Then, setting the point against the
face of the solid iron, he drave it
smoothly and swiftly back into its
embodiment whence he had drawn it.
a second time he drew it forth; a sec
ond time he whirled it thlice about
his head; a second time he drave it
back into the bosom of the iron anvil.
Then once again he drew it forth; and
so thrice, in the eyes of all the world,
did he achieve the adventure that no
other man but he might hope to com
pass-From THE Story of King Ar
thur and His Knights" by Howard
Pyle, in st. Nicholas.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
Mr.. DooIey on Historians.

know histhry isn't thrue, Hinnessy,
because 1t amt like what | see livery
Jay in Halsted sthreet. If amy wan
comes along with histhry iv Greece
or Rome that'll show ME the people
Aghtin', gettin' drunk, maxim love
gettin' married, OWN tn grocery man
an bein' without hard coal, I'll believe
they was Greece Or Rome, but not
befure. Historyans is like doctors
They are always lookin' FIR symptoms.
Those Nv them that writes about their
own times examines tn tongue an
feels tn pulse an makes a wrong dyg-
nOsis. The other kind is histhry is
a post-morter examination. 1t tells yc
what country died w. But I'd like
to know what it lived iv.-From "Ob-
seryations by Mr.. DoOley."
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17

"a scientific Investigator has discov.
cred very interesting fact in rela ton
to the works of authors" said Mr..
Thomas G. Alvord. chief clerk of the
Library of Congress. by slow and
laborious process this investigator has
discovered that the books Of any one
author will show that in each Of them
he has used the same percentage of
words of one, two, three or more syl-
tables. This fact has allowed the
formation Of what is known as the
authors hair linc'-that is, line that
will show by steps the percentage Of
words of one or more syllables that will
be found in any book Of an author
whose work has been tested to deter
mine this hair line "-WashingtOn
Star,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
Turkish Printing Law.

All printing establishments in Tur-
key, according to new law just
passed. may have only one door, and
that opening on to the street. Win
dows must be covered with close
meshed wire netting, so that no pa
pers can be handed through A state.
ment must be made a year in ad.
vance of the amount of ink required,
which will be supplied by the state. A
specimen of everything printed is to
be kept, and must be shown at any
time to a police inspector on pain Of
fine.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
Orjuin of the Waltz,

Paris has been having Waiting
tournament in one of her public dane
ing halls. Apropos of this some of the
papers have just been discussing the
origin of the waltz. 1t is asserted that
the credit of inventing the dance
should not 80 to the Germans, who
claim it for their own. Manuscripts OF
the 18th century exist which prove in
contestably that the waltz existed at
that time; in fact. that it was first
danced in Paris on November 8, 1l7S.
For long time previous to this i'm
portant event it had been known in
Provence under the name of volta"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
VIM He Wondered.

In a certain community a lawyer
died who was most popular and wor-
thy man, and among other virtues in
scribed upon his tomb was this: "A
lawyer. and an honest man."
Some years afterward farmers
convention was held in the town, and
one of the delegates, of a sentimental
turn, in rambling among the tombs,
was struck with the inscription; "A
lawyer, and an honest man.
He was lost in thought, and when
run upon by a fellow farmer, who no
ticing his abstraction. asked if he had
found the grave of dear friend or
relative, said:
mo: but | was wondering why they
came to bury these two fellows in the
same grave. "-Tit-Bits.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
on His Beat.

The recent civil service examination
brings to mind on amusing story which
was told in connection with one of
tie earliest examinations for police
men. The question asked by the eX-
aiming commission was: How many
miles to the moon?'
Pat, lusty sou Of old Erin, whose
right to place on the force had never
before been disputed, answered.
Il don't know how many miles It
is, but l know that 1t Is far enough
away to be outside my beat. even when
its ull."-New York Times.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
Pedagogy.

But" objected the visitor, quite a
number of your pupils have broken
down and become imbeciles."
True" replied the eminent educat-
or, but we confidently expect better
things in the future. The bacillus of
overstudy having now been identified
and a serum for it's destruction de-
vised, we look for no further trouble
of the kind you mention. Life.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
q Z! EEHA a !
(l3 .%@l8HINGJ|
>1MNy1Qll1g

1t has been stated that sixty miles
m hour was the utmost rate ut which
swallow could fly. Recent expert.
ments between Compeignc and Ant
wcrp proved that swallow in Il hurry
can cover l2Sis miles in an hour.
In the stomach Of n COW butchercd
near Montrose Pa, good sized peck
etbook, with Il brass clasp, was found.
The pockctbook contained roll OF
bills and forty.three cents in change,
\ shngle nail and Il hairpln were also
found.
Trained cats are the latest fad Of
French society women. Fashion de-
crccs that the animal must be educated
entirely by its owner, and several of
the best known women in Partisan
society are giving an hour 4 day to
training their pets.
a sanitarium has been established
over The limestone caves at Iuray, Va.
and mir from the caves is forced
through the rooms. This air is free
from impurities, and il gives the guests
virtually the air OF the mountain alti-
tudcs without going there.
In the interior of the extinct crater
Asa san, about thirty miles from the
city Of kumamcto, in Japan, 10000
people live and prosper. The vertical
wall of the crater is 500 feet high. The
inhabitants rarely make journey into
the outer world, bur form almost Il
little nation by themselves.
The manufacture of golf balls was It
one time, the end of the sixteenth and
the heginnig of the seventeenth cen.
turtles, in the hands of the Dutch, and
heavy tax was placed upon such rs
were imported into Great Britain in
order to give the more expensive Brit
iSh lnborer a chance, James VI. of
Scotland going so far rs to give one
maker Il monopoly of the manufacture
TO talk through human body-or q
row of human bodies, for the matter Of
that's one of the weirdest of the cleo
trician's featS. If telephone wire
he severed and the two ends be held
10y Il person, one in each hand, but far
apart, it is quite possible for two indi-
vduals to carry on a conversation
through the body Of Il medium as read
lily and distinctly as il the line had
been properly connected.
The grand balance or scule used in
the Bank of England is probably the
most wonderful piece Of mechanism
to be seen anywhere. 1t stands about
seven feet high and weighs probably
two tons. This scale is so perfectly
adjusted that it can weigh grain Of
dust or 100 pounds Of gold. A postage
stamp placed on one of the two weigh
ing portions will move the index six
inches. If the weight placed upon
the scale is beyond its capacity an cleo
iric bell is set ringing, the machine de-
"iining to execute task of which it Is
incapable
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
A Georgia Love Story.

A lovelorn Georgia swain wrote to
his sweetheart:
Nell, I'm a-lovin' of you so that,
comm from town yesterday, | lost
my mind and 81 in silver; and this is
to let you know that I'm a-goin TO
take piZen and end my troubles"
To which the sensible girl replied
as follows:
John, eff yer minds set to kill yer
self don't take pizen; jest lay down on
railroad track and git run over; then
yer folks kin sue fer damages, and
mebbe I'll git enough outen it to buy
me Il winter hat!"--Atlanta Const1tu-
ton.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
Iannuane of the inks.

Redd-I hear you have been out on
the links with your Philadelphia friend
Greene-Yes, the Quaker.
did he surprise you any"
II should say he did! When he
missed the ball he stamped his foot and
said: You perverse thing!"--Yonkers
Statesman.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17

We offer One Hundred Dollars Reward for
any case OF Catarrh that cannot be cured by
Halls Catarrh Cure.
FIJI. CHENEY 4 Co., Props, Toledo, o.
We, theundersigned, have knownF. j Che
ney for the last 10 years, and believe him per-
fectly honorable In all business transactions
and financially able to carry out any obliga-
tion made by their firm.
WEST Il TBUAx, Wholesale Druggists, Toledo.
Ohio.
WALDINa, KINNANGMARyIN,W Wholesale Drug
gists, Toledo, Ohio.
Halls Catarrh Cure Is taken internally act
ing directly upon the blood and mucous sur
faces OF the system. Price, 75c. per bottle.
Sold BY all Druggists. Testimonials free.
Halls Family Pills are the best.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
OFFERS MANY INDUCEMENTS TO THE
TOURIST
Some Prominent RcSO,fs

SUHtP ITUWTWPNT KFSOITS
are st. Augustine, Palm Beach, Miami,
Jacksonville, Tampa, Port Tampa, Druns.
wick, Savannah, Thomasyil", Charleston,
Columbia, Aiken, Augusta Pinrhurst, Cam
den, Summervillc, Ashevillc, Hot Springs,
1.-THE LAND OF THE SKY" AND
SAPPHIRE COUNTRY
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
Many School. children Arc siokly.

Mother Gray's Sweet Powders for Children,
used by Mother Gray, a nurse in Children's
Home, New York, break up Colds In "a hours.
cure Feverlshness, Constipation, Stomach
Troubles, Teething Disorders and Destroy
Worms. At all druggists 25c. Sample mailed
FREE. Address Allen s. Olmsted, LIE Roy, NY.
Monterey, Mexico, is to have an electric
railroad system thirty miles long, calling
for al expenditure of IS 500, 900.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
Settled,

Meeker-My wife and I always settle
our differences by arbitration.
Bradley-Who Is the arbitrator?
my wife, Of course. Baltimore
Sun.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
MRS. MI. BRINK
FIRST STAGE OF CATARRH
A Serious Mistake Which Thou
sands Are Making.

The first stage of catarrh is what is
commonly known as catching cold, 1t
may be in the head, nose, throat or lungs
Its beginning is sometimes SO severe as TO
cause a chill and considerable fever. or it
may be SO slight as to not hinder a person
from his usual business. In perhaps
majority of cases little or no attention
Is paid to the first stage of catarrh, and
hence it is that nearly one-half of the PEG,
pie have chronic catarrh in some form.
To neglect cold is to invite chronic
eatarrh As soon as any one discovers
the first symptoms of catching cod he
should at once begin the Use of Peruna
according to directions on the bottle,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
The American Novel.

"Why don't you write an American
novel;"
81 have thought of it," answered the
literateur, but was deferred by the
fact that l could not decide whether to
make the hero an Englishman, a
Frenchman or a German"-Washing-
ton Star.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17

Bavaria has a special horse msur-
ance association, under government
control. 1t paid out in 1901 $l46,OOO to
members.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
The Poor Bow.

When you see boy with his hair
is in love with his school teacher, or
he is going to get his photograph TAX
en.-New York Press.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17

The whole number of Seminole In.
dams, as shown by census just TAX.
en-, is but 1879. Nearly all Of them are
in the Florida everglades.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17

In some rural parts of Russia it is
still customary to have funeral re-
pasts in the cemeteries. NE3
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17

Piso's Cure cannot be too highly spoken OF
a. cough curs.-J. ". O'DRIEN,. $40 Third
Avenue, N, Minneapolis, MIMI, Jan. Q, l9oJ
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17

Hearing, as q rule, is more acute with
the right than with the left ear.