davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
A Miraculous Vault.

The most interesting place OF Pill
grimage in Dublin Is st. Mlchan's
church. where the organ is still to be
seen upon which Handel is said to have
composed his Messiah" In the grave
yard is the last resting place Of Robert
Emmett, and the vault at st. Michan's
provides a more grewsome thrill than
the morgue. The sexton lifts an iron
door and descends a few rude steps.
carrying light, without which the
place would be pitch dark. You follow
and find yourself in narrow passage,
from which cell-like recesses belonging
to different families branch of. Wheth-
er 1t is owing to the extreme dryness
Of the surroundings or to some mysteri-
Gus property Of the place the process OF
decay has been arrested, and the fea-
lures Of persons dead for two centuries
may be recognized from authentic por-
traits. Here lie the brothers Shcares.
who were executed for tetir share In
the united Irish conspiracy. side by
side almost with the Earl OF Leitrim,
who was murdered about thirty years
ago. The earl's ancestors for hundreds
of years back rest in the same vault.
Perhaps the strangest thing about the
vault is the fact that. apart from the
weird sensation, there Is nothing Of
fensive In the surroundings.-LOnd
Taller
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
The Bachelor.

A western editor pays this tribute to
a type which has not its fair share OF
song and story: "The bachelor repre-
sents the most congenial and big heart
ed type OF our commonwealth. His
name. while held in public dcrision by
host of people, will always remain
closely interviewer in the history OF
pioneer life. He IL was who pushed
out into the wild and woolly west at a
time when the buffalo, Indians and
coyote were lords of the prairies and
by persistent efforts and under priya-
ton and want led a heroic life by
converting vast areas Of the barren
wilderness into fertile lands Of peace
and plenty. Then. without aid Of femi-
nine piety to keep vigil over his every
day acts, this sturdy empire builder
remained at his post. blazing out the
path OF fame and introducing thrift
and civilization I'm his wake. Like the
cowboy lie is slowly passing into his
tory, but his fame Is as farreaching as
civilization, his name indelibly stamped
on the pages OF history, while the hum
bic dugout with It's original environ
ments Will appear In scenic pictures
above the footights Of future genera.
tions"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
Persian Afhletes.

Strong and skilled as western ath
letes are, there are some respects IL
which the athletes Of the east, and 60
pecially those of Persia, surpass them
Their skill is due to the fact thai
they do not rely on brute strength, but
on adroitness, which they have &C
quired after years Of strenuous train
ing. They know the function OF every
muscle In their bodies. and they are moi
regarded as experts until they are sc
well trained that they can perform
with ease any feat which depends fol-
success not only upon their strength
but also upon the proper play OF their
muscles.
They are not as bulky as some of the
we'll known athletes Of Europe and
America. but. on the other hand. their
bodies are wonderfully symmetrical
and all their movements are most
graceful.
In wrestling and swinging clubs they
especially excel. and, no matter how
expert they may be. not day passes
that they do not practice for several
hours.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
Dressing by Act OF Parliament.

Tho old sumptuary laws were those
regulations by which the dress and
food of the kings subjects were nicely
controlled. 1t was a sort Of official
Mrs. Grundy. Fashion regulations fol-
men In particular were laid down on
very precise lines, and the changes In
their attire occurred much more fre.
quently than in women's. Very differ
ent Is the case now. In those days
too, mems dress was bright and even
gaudy.
Prior to 1104 long hair was the regu
lation. In that year however, Henry
l., of blessed memory to BARRIERS, had
all his subjects locks ruthlessly shorn
The next important edlct Of this kind
was under Edward H., who insisted
that no one should have more than two
courses for dinner, except on the eight
cen holidays I'm the year. when the
kings lieges might eat and drink al
will.
OF interest to ladies will be the hard
fate that befell the big sleeves worn
by men under Richard ii. We are told
that some hung down to the knees
When pottage is brought to the table
"the sleeves go into them and get the
first taste" In short, the nuisance was
so intolerable that statute was passed
prohibiting any man below a bannerei
from wearing them.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13

IN former times the appearance OF a
whale in the river Thames was consid-
cred ominous. One was caught of
Greenwich three months prior to the
death of Oliver Cromwell, and the com
mon opinion was expressed by Heath
IN his "Flagellum." 1T pleased God
he remarks, ''to usher in his end with
a great whale three months before,
June 2, that came up as far as Green
wich and there was killed" Evelyn.
In HIS DIARY" under the date of June
3, 1853. mentions that n whale was
killed Off Greenwich and that ii drew
an "infinlte concourse 10 see ii by wa
ter. horse, coach and on foot from Lon
don and all parts" According to Rob-
ert Hubert, IL Lis Catalogue OF Nat
ural Rarities," the tongue of this whale
was exhibited daily for some time at
the "Aliter. near the west end OF St
Paul's church"
In February, 1857, another whale
was caught in the Thames, and in the
Times OF that month appeared an ad-
vertisement for a piece Of ground, some
40 feet by 60 feet, ION which to exhibit
a whale" The piece Of ground adver-
tised for was found in the Mile End
read. and the whale was exhibited I'M
til March II. In the same month
namely. on March 81 - expired the
house OF commons. which had been
elected In 1852.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
An Early Norman Dinner.

The Saxon dinner arrangements were
orderly compared with those OF the
early Normans. when the halls and
passages were frequently the scene of
a free fight between the servants bring
ing I'm the food and the crowds OF hang
ers on endeavoring to snatch 1t from
them. This nuisance became at length
so intolernble that ushers OF the hall
and kitchen were established by King
William Rufus to protect not only the
cooks bringing In the dinner, but the
guests arriving TO partake OF IT. Upon
the occasion OF his great feast Mt West
Minister 800 OF these officers were on
duty, some to guard the visitors as
they ascended the steps and others to
defend the threatened dishes.
Such was the unciyiliZed state Of 80
ciety at this period. but when later on
the marauders disappeared from the
great houses ii became customary TO
carry I'm the dishes i'm procession. some
times preceded by music and headed
by the steward with his wand Of office.
1t was the duty OF an "asseeur' or
placer to arrange them upon the table;
the ewers and napkins with which to
perform their ablutions were present
ed to the guests by the esquires and
pages, while it fell to the lot Of the al
moner to say grace.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
How Men Fall When Shot.

Nearly every one is familiar with the
traditional stage fall. where the victim
of q supposed death shot strikes an at
titude. clasps his hand to his heart
stiffens every joint and muscle
breathes Historically and goes down
like log toppled over from the end
Another popular yet erroneous notion
is that men shot through the vitals
leap into the air and 90 down in dra~
matte attitude. Sometimes men are
found on the field in striking positions
but often an examination shows that
the position was taken after the fall.
AS a rule man who is hit above the
hips sinks down. The slighter the
wound the more commotion, for the
body instinctively resists, just as 1t
does when one slips or Is pushed or col
lides with some object But a wound
in a vital spot weakens the resistance
and men sink at once or reel and tum-
BILE with very little self control.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
BE SURE AND USE

VICINITY, lie Ineanest duu uoss
debilitating of all diseases,
BE SURE AND USE
Aunt RaChel'S Malarial BitterS,
a little in each glass Of water you
drink. Directions on tho bottle.
1t Purifes the Blood, Strength
ems the Stomach and Tones the
System. Creates appetite.
These Ditters are a scientih-
combination of Chinchona (Ch
Rcgia), Wormwood and the A
Tree, maccrated in a tonic win =,
made from EIdcrbcrries and per-
coIated through Jamaica Ginger
aud Snake Root
1t is from recipe OF one OF ths
eldest and most successful nurses
in the State OF New Jersey.
1t will counteract any dcleteri-
Gus poison or fever influence the
water may hold that you drink
or the air you breathe.
BE sure you get Aunt Rachel's
Malarial Bitters when you Erst
begin to feel symptoms OF this
lever. 1t is sure thing. Drug
g's.s sell it.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
The Feet of Chameieons,

Chameleons, as no doubt readers are
aware, all belong to the old world, and
particularly to Africa. In their tongue
their feet and their eyes they differ re-
markably from other lizards. Their
feet. though possessing five toes. are
divided into two graSping groups, look
ing like a hand in mittens, and only 10y
close examination you perceive the
presence Of the two or the three oppoS'
Ing respectively. but so close together
as TO appear like one broad one.
On the padded soles or palms OF
these grasping limbs you can feel and
see the small-may one say-palpi,
which enable them to grasp so firmly
that II is difficult to detach chameleon
from its foothold. These clinging feet,
together with their prehensile tail, en-
able them to sustain themselves OH the
branches In the strongest gale.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
Reed Enjoyed 1t.

Thomas r. Reed was once the victim
Of printers error the unusual aptness
of which, after the first flush OF indig
nation had subsded, appealed so strong
ly TO his sense Of the comic that he
never failed to refer to the matter with
the keenest gustO whenever he met the
man whom he. with the utmost mock
solemnity, always held responsible for
IL.
The late Colonel John 4. Cockerilrs s
handwriting In the heat Of composition
was sometimes liable to lose itself In
an almost lnterminable tangle. deci-
pherablc only with the greatest difficul
ty. On one occasion he undertook to say
that amy one can see Tom Reed has
the face OF an honest man." but was
horrificd when he opened his paper the
following morning and found that the
types made him say that ANY one can
see Tom Reed has face like harvest
moon"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13

Tennyson's famous poem, Crossing
the Bar" was written, says the present
Lord Tennyson, in the poets eighty
first year ION a day in October when
we came from Aldworth to Earring
ford. Before reaching Farringford he
had had the moaning OF the bar In his
mind. and after dinner he showed me
the poem written out" THAT Is the
crown of your lifes work. said his
son. who was the first man after the
poet to read Crossing the Bar and
who passed the first criticism upon 1t
I'm such fitting and generous language.
1T came in moment" said the poet,
and he explained the pilot as the Di-
vine and Unseen who is always guild
ing us. \ day or two before he died
the poet, calling his son TO his bedside.
said. Mind you put Crossing tie Bar
at the end Of all editions Of my poems
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13

A Chinese bride called upon foreign
lady. says a missionary. On entering
the room she deliberately turned her
back upon her hostess and made an
elaborate obesance. OF course the for
eign lady was amazed and annoyed
but she found out the reason or the
strange proceeding afterward. The
brides conduct had conformed to Chi
nese etiquette.
She had performed her obeisance, her
k'o-t'-ou. to the north because that Is
the direction of the royal abode. If the
foreign lady was so ignorant as TO
stand Oh the south side Of the room,
that was not the brides concern. She
knew. If her hostess did not, In what
direction to bow her head.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13

One Of the rarest and most precious
stones is the carbuncle. which is some
times confounded with the ruby, from
which it differs by the intensity Of its
fires, produced by an internal luster OF
gold, while under the purple of the ru-
by there only appear dottings of azure
or lacquer Ethiopia produced the
most precious ancient carbuncles. The
Chaldeans regarded this stone as g
powerful talisman. Legend makes the
eyes Of dragons out Of carbuncles. Car
cias alb Horto, physician OF one OF the
viceroys of India, speaks Of carbuncles
which he saw in the palace Of that
prince which were so extraordinary in
their brllliancy that they seemed like
redhot Goals in the midst Of darkness" 3"
Louis Vertoman reports that the king
Of Pegu wore an enormous one, which
at night appeared to be lighted up with
sunbeams. The virtues Of the carbun-
Gle are resistance to fire, preservation
of the eyes, promotion Of pleasant
dreams, creation of happy illusions and
an antidOte against impure air.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
a Grpnf Feast

There has never been prepared at
any feast n bigger bowl Of punch than
that which was brewed by the Right
Hon. Edward Russell when he was
captain general and commander In
chief of the forces in the Mediterra-
mean seas. 1t was made in q fountain
in a garden in the middle OF four
walks, all covered overhead with
lemon and orange trees. In every walk
there was a table the whole length OF
II, and on every table was cold COLA
ton. In the huge fountains were the
following Ingredients Four hOgsheads
OF brandy, eight hOgsheads of water,
25,OO0 lemons, twenty gallons OF lime
Juice, 1900 pounds Of fine Lisbon
sugar. five pounds Of grated nutmegs.
300 toasted biscuits and q pipe OF dry
mountain Malaga.
Over the fountain was placed a great
canopy, while in the midst OF this lake
Of liquor there sailed little sailor boy
who filled the cups and replenished the
glasses Of all those who had a desire
TO drink. More than 5000 men put In
an appearance at this feast.-London
Tit-Bits
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
Having Fun With m Trn0edfan

On one Of the times when Barry Sui
livan, the great Irish tragedian, was
playing Hamlet n certain clever low
comedian named Hoskins was the
gravedigger After answering Sulli-
vans question, How long will man
lie In the earth ere he rotY HOskins
proceeded with the business Of illus
trating his reply.
Taking up Yorick's skull he spoke
the words of the text: "NOw. here's n
skull that hath lain in the earth three
and twenty years. Whose do you think
ii was|
"Nay, | know not" replied Sullivan
as Hamlet.
"This skull. sir" said Hoskins, was
Diavolo Antonio's. whom Booth fought
in this city.'
The house roared with laughter,
while Sullivan stamped and fumed, ex-
claiming: "Yorick's. sir. Yorick's."
NO" said Hoskins coolly. when the
tumult had subsided, and taking up
another skull. "This Is Yorick's skull.
the kings jester; but t'other's Anto-
MOS, Just as told ou."-Kansas City
Independent.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
snner,tition. About bread.

In Brittany when housewife begins
20 knead dough she makes cross witt
her right hand. the left being placed II
the trough. II a cat enters the room,
is believed the bread will not rise
Ii Is supposed that certain women cal
cause the dough to multiply itself. OF
the coast of the channel the dough 4
admired 70 initiate The leayen. the mil
Ter and the baker and to rise.
The oven is sacred object and con
nected with crowds Of superstitions
The oven ~ dedicated, with ceremo
MES. In certain places in Brittany IL
wood is watered with blessed watei
Bread must not be cooked on certai;
days. rs OH Holy Friday or during IL.
night Of All Saints. when the ghost
would eat it.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
A WiiIfuI Misunderstanding

Pitt was induced by Sir John Sin
clair to constitute n board Of agricul-
ture toward the end Of the eighteenth
century and make him the president.
Having enjoyed his Office for few
years. Sinclair began to desire promo
ton in the social scale. Dear hr.
Pitt" ne wrote TO the prime minister,
don't you think the president Of the
board OF agriculture should be peerT
Dear Sir John Sinclair" replied
Pitt. IL entirely agree with you.
have therefore appointed Lord Somer-
Vile to succeed you as president of the
board OF agriculture
Sir John Sinclair went about wiring
ing his hands and eXclaiming: Dear
me. dear me, 1t was such n willful
misunderstanding - Fortnlghtly Re
view.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
Bilious COlic.

II. Sewer, a carpenter anf
builder of Kenton, Tenn, wher
suffering intensely from an attack
OF bilious collie, sent to near by
drug store for something to relieve
him. The druggist sent him q
bottle Of Chamberlain's Collie
Cholera and DlarrhOea Remedy
three does of which effected q
permanent cure. This is the only
remedy that can be depended upon
in the most severe cases of cOli(
and cholera morbus. Most drug
gists know this and recommend il
when such a medicine is called for
For sale by L. R. Irwin
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13

Custom house men have sometimes
made other captures besides those OF
contraband goods. A man who had ef-
fected aheavy jewelry robbery In a sea-
port town was retreating with his
plunder. and. having deposited II In a
boat. he rowed himself across the bar
beF to timber wharf, landed and put
ting the sack across his shoulders, was
making off, when a revenue officer,
who had been doing among the tim
Der, reused by the noise. came out and
stopped him and asked what he had
got in the sack. He quickly replied:
You are welcome TO look. I'll go on
board and fetch the other" And of the
went, and. as may be imagined, he did
not turn up again, as no other sack ex-
listed The officer on opening the bag
was rather astonished to find it full or
watches and spoons instead Of a few
hundred cigars. such as sailors some
times try to land.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
Snakes waste Little Time Eating.


A serpent will go for weeks, some
times even for months, without feed
Ing. Then 1t may take three rabbits or
ducks, one after the other, at single
meal and afterward become torpid
while digestion proceeds. When. after
a sufficient period OF fasting, 1t gets
disposed to eat and n rabbit happens to
be introduced into It's cage, II may
plainly be seen that the rabbits pres
ence is quickly noticed by II. The
snake will begin 10 move slowly about
till il has brought its snout opposite the
rabbits muzzle. Then, In an instant, II
will seize the rabbits head In Its
mouth, simultaneously coiling its pow
erful body around II and crushing III
to death at once.
The action is so instantaneous that II
Is impossible for the rabbit to suffer
Certainly II can suffer no more than
when killed by poulterer. The snake
does not Immediately uncoil Its folds.
but continues for a time to hold its vic
tim tightly embraced. sometimes rock
Ing itself gently to and fro. Then Ii
slowly unwinds its huge body and once
more takes the rabbits head In Its
mouth and swallows It
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
p,o. p,ncr Not Made From Rice.

Rice paper is not made from rice nor
from rice stalks. nor has 1t any con-
nectlon whatever with rice. II Is OF
Chinese manufacture and is made
from the pith Of certain tree resem
bling the elder. The plth Is extracted
from the tree In large cylindrical mass
es. and with sharp knives the Chinese
pare off the cylinder till instead OF a
cylindrical form they have n large nat
sheet. This Is pressed and other sheets
added until the required thickness is
secured. The paper is then rudely
sized and is ready to use. 1t was called
rice paper under the supposition that
when it was first introduced into Eu-
rope 1t was made from rice stalks, ano
the name has never been changed.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
wondcrs OF the Human Heart.

The workings Of the human heart
have been computed by celebrated
Psychologist. and he has demonstrated
that IL Is equal TO the lifting Of 120
tons in twenty-four hours. Presuming
that the blood is thrown out Of the
heart at each pulSatlon in the proper
ton OF sixty-nine strokes Of nine feet,
the mileage of the blood through the
body might be taken at 20T yards per
minute. seven miles per hour, 16s miles
per day. 81 800 miles per year, or
5.15O.OO0 miles in a lifetime Of eighty
four years. In the same period OF time
the heart must'beqt 2.S60.776OOO times.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13
stoppcd Voting For Daniel.

A funny story is told about an old
time doctor who, writing a letter, ask
ed Judge. Judge. isn't e-q-ui the
way to spell equinomicalT
ayes. | think 1t is" said the Judge.
"but here's Webstcr's Dictionary. IL
can soon tell you"
He tried to find the word, but gave
it up at length. and exclaimed. well,
sir. I've always been Daniel Webster
man, but any man who will write as
big a dictionary as this and not put In
as common a word as equinomicai
can't get my vote for anything here'
n ftarn
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13

Scientists tell us that counting from
the sea level, the lowest body OF water
on the globe Is the Caspian sea. For
centuries its surface has been gradu-
ally settling down until now 1t Is eiSh'
ty-five feet lower than that Of It's near
neighbor. the Black sea. which also lies
far below the level Of the oceans. The
common conclusion all along has been
that the Caspian was simply losing It's
waters by evaporation. but recent In
vestlgation shows that this Is not the
case. Soundlngs made and compared
with records of soundings made over
100 years ago reveal the astounding
fact that there is even n greater depth
OF water now than then. This leaves
but one hypothesis that would seem at
all tenable-that the bottom Of the sea
IS actually sinking. There Is much
speculation IN scientific circles as To
what will be the final outcome.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13

The turquoise is considered as tall
man In Persia. Us ratiye soil. 1t prc-
serves its possos'ar rom accidents an'
insures constal ; i.i affections. The
value OF the tt: .uoiSe depends on its
shade and its size. especially its thick
ness. Those e. ;Sed as belonging to the
old rock are ued very highly. En-
blem of youth. OF sentiment and tender
recollections. Il" turquoise may be
called the forget time not Of stones.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1903-02-13

A "sadiron" is the style in which the
common fatiron is spoken Of in print,
says the Syracuse Herald. Sad Is an
old English synonym for heavy, and
Spenser wrote, more sad than lump OF
lead" A "sadiron" was heavy iron
and long ago was applied to the fiatiron
now in common domestic use. The
tailor's goose" was so called because
the handle bears n fanciful resem-
blance to the neck Of a goose. This
name because il had reason for be
ing still survives.