davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
To lie Healthy lie Practical.

Theoretically. every adult person of
any intelligence wishes to be strong
and healthy. Practically u majority of
them wish nothing of the sort. They
would like to be well enough. but are
not willing to pay the price. though it
really costs nothing. When man gets
out of health he usually wants to get
something to patch him up" so that
he can continue the foolish things
which have caused his bad conditions;
hence the almost universal resort to
drug treatment instead of the natural
means Of restoring and maintaining
health and strength. If man Is really
desirous of being naturally sound and
healthy he will try to study out the
means of becoming So These means
are all included in the seven founda-
tion principles of practical hygiene
namely. exercise. rest. alr, light. food.
drink and athlng.-Cooking Club.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
nrignOli and His Age.

On one occasion Bianchi, the noted
teacher, went on the stage to see Brl-
gnoli the famous singer, whom he
found pacing up and down like mad
man, hummlng over his part.
"Why. Brig, what is the matter will,
your Are you nervous?" he asked.
"Yes, am nervous" was the reply as
he walked harder and faster than ever.
"But. Brig, you ought not to be nerv-
Gus. I've heard you sing the part 200
times. heard you sing 1t thirty years
ago"
"Thlrty years ago! Who are you that
should know so muchT'
"Who am I? You know who I am,
and know who you are"
Every well; you know what ! am,
but | am sure you do not know what
you are, and If you wish I will tell
you. You are fool!'
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11

Martha" said her mornma. II trust
that while you were nt your Aunt
Martha's you said nothing to offend
her.
"Oh. no. mamma" declared the angel
child. II was careful TO say things
which would make her know that you
and papa liked her for herself alone"
"That was proper"
"Why. when she asked me II you
folks had named me Martha SO that she
would leave us her money when she
dies | told her that papa and you had
talked about that and that papa said
we mustn't think of such thing"
"And what did she say?" asked man.
ma eagerly.
Nothing. She just laughed and said
was a good girl and I'd better run
along home when told her what papa
said about her going to have n pocket
made In her shroud."--Chicago Trib-
une.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
A Canny Scot.

A canny Scot lived in a small settle
ment some miles from the neighborlng
town. The distance, however, could
be considerably lessened by cutting
through large estate. This practice
was accordingly so much resorted to
that the owner gave peremptory orders
for all trespassers TO be turned around
and sent back the way they came.
One time, however, the Scot In ques-
ton, having occasion to take some arti-
cles to town In a wheelbarrow, decided
to run the risk and was about half
way through when he saw the owner
In the distance Not rellshing the idea
of retracing his steps, he bethought
himself of scheme, and, promptly
turning the wheolbarrow TO face the
direction from which he came, he sat
down upon ii as II resting.
Soon the owner came up and, seeing
him there, roughly ordered him to turn
around and 90 back.
AS "back" was in this case his OBJ
jectlve point the Scot obeyed and went
on his way rejoicing
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
Two Ways of Doing business.

The industrious man-the plain. ev-
eryday kind, we mean-gets to his
work early. Three hours later the man
Of marked executive ability drops in to
see that the industrious man keeps
steadily at work. If everything is GO
ing well the man of marked executive
ability leaves for the day, for there is
no need for display Of his peculiar
qualities. If everything is going Ill the
man of marked executive ability quits
at once in order that his reputation
may not be compromised by his pres
ence-Boston Transcript.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
ALMANAcs ARE ANCIENT.
shey Were Made by the Greeks ss
Far Bacix nv A. ID. 100.


Far Bacis ns A. ID. 100.
According to Theon, the commentators
on Ptolemy, almanacs, as we under
stand the word, were constructed from
about the year 100 A. u. by the Greeks
of Alexandria, but the dates of festl-
walls and other'events of national inter
est had been exposed on marble tab
lets In Rome 200 years Il. @. Lalande.
nn authority on the subject, states that
the earliest almanac of which the au-
thors name Is preserved was that Of
Solomon Jarchus, who lived In the mid
die of the twelfth century.
A primitive English calendar or al
manac was called the ''prime-staff."
"reln-stock" or rclog almanac" II was
made of wood. bone or horn. about
eight inches long, like n square ruler.
On this the days were marked by a
series of notches. every seventh being
OF larger size. The festivals were indi-
Gated by symbols, as were the golden
number and the cycle Of the moon.
Specimens of this "clog almanac" may
be seen at the British museum and I'm
museums or libraries at oxford, Cam
bridge and Manchester. Some of larger
size were hung "at one end of the man
tle-tree of their chmneys" for general
use, and smaller ones were carried in
the pocket or on the walking stick
Pearsons Weekly.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
Position of wood ana It's Durability.

The problem has troubled many why
two pieces of wood sawed from the
same section of tree should possess
very varied characteristics when used
in different positions. For example, a
gate post will be found to decay much
faster IL the butt end of the tree Is
uppermost than would be the case II
the top were placed in this position.
The reason Is that the moisture of the
atmosphere will permeate the pores Of
the wood much more rapidly the way
the tree grew than II would IL In the
opposite direction.
Mlcroscopical examination proves that
the pores invite the ascent of moisture,
while they repel its descent. Take the
familiar case of wooden bucket.
Many may have noticed that some Of
the slaves appear to be entirely sat
urated, while others are apparently
quite dry. This arises from the same
cause.-the dry slaves are in the posi-
ton in which the tree grew, while the
saturated ones are reversed.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
The Tn b.

Thumbs have been appreciated ever
since the world began. The ancients
used to call the thumb the other hand
Barbarous kings used to swear and
make compacts by their thumbs. In
Rome It was sign of favor to wiring
and kiss the thumb and of dlsfavor
or disgrace to lift 1t up or turn 1t out
ward. A man who was hurt In his
thumbs was excused from serving in
the Roman wars. Some of the scoun-
drelly citizens used to cut Off their
thumbs so ms to remain at home and
get rich. Teachers used to punish their
pupils by biting their thumbs.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
A "Reminiscences of Fanny IxembIe.

Fanny Kemble is remembered by old
residents of Germantown and Philadel-
phia as a superb horsewoman. She had
n fiery temper, which matched that of
her husband, Pierce Butler, and speed
fly brought about one Of the most noted
divorce trials reported in the law books.
In her youth she was remarkably beau
tiful, and in the role of Juliet she was
the personification of dazzling lowell
ness. She was noted for her keenness
of wit even in the days of her old age.
Once when an impertinent street loun-
ger stepped up TO her while she was
looking in the window of bric-a-brac
store and said, Are you fond Of an
tiquitiesT Mrs. Kemble quickly un-
pinned her veil and, turning on the
man her aged face (she was then sew
enty-three), asked, "Are you?"
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11

Sir Richard owen. the eminent anat-
omist, often had his skill in Identify
ing bones tested. On one occasion his
friend and neighbor, Lord John Rus
SELL sent him specimen for this pur-
pose, and the professor quickly pro-
nounced it the thigh bone of pig.
This explanation of the query was sub
sequently offered by Lord John: "Pres-
ident Buchanan had sent from Amer
lea TO the English statesman the pres
ent of n choice bears ham, and the
family had breakfasted off It several
times with much enjoyment. Some
how or other, however, suspicion was
aroused, and the bone was sent to their
scientific neighbor, with the result
stated."-Pall Mall Gazette.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11

Unlike Napoleon. Bismarck was a
hard smoker. He once told this story
TO illustrate his love of the weed:
"The value of n good cigar Is best
understood when II is the last you pos
sess and there Is no chance of getting
another. At Koenlggraetz I had only
one cigar left in my pocket. which I
carefully guarded during the battle as
II miser guards his treasure. did not
feel justines in using 1t. painted In
glowing colors In my mind the happy
hour when | should enjoy It after the
victory. but | had mlscalculnted my
chances. A poor dragoon lay helpless,
with both arms crushed. murmuring
for something TO refresh him. felt in
my pockets and found only gold. which
would not be of the least use to him.
But stay had still my treasured
cigar. rlighted 1t for him and placed
II between his teeth. You should have
seen the poor fellows grateful smile.
never enjoyed n cigar so much as that
one which did not smoke"
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
Set His own Novel.

r. l.. Farjeon was one of the very
few writers who, set up work in type
without the medium of manuscript.
When the novelist first turned to fc-
tion he was editor and publisher of the
Otago Times, which was printed ut his
own offices at Dunedin, and many OF
the chapters of his novel "Grif" were
transferred direct TO type by the late
Mr.. Farjeon. who was one of the most
rapid compositors of his time. He was
firm believer in charms and attrib-
uted much of his good fortune 90 n New
Zealand greensboro which he wore for
many years on his watch chain.-Lon-
don Tit-Bits.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
An Aggrnvating speech.

One of the wits of the parliament
house is said to have observed on the
occasion of Judge Deas' promotion to
the honor of knighthood, "The queen
may make George Deas a knight, but
no one will ever make him n gentle
man." Deas was quite able, however,
to hold his own, and he punished the
wits when they came to make their
maiden speeches before him. "Pris-
oner at the BAR" he once said to an
unfortunate wretch on whose behalf
an infant advocate had been feebly
urging 'extenuating circumstances" !"
everything that your counsel has said
in mitigation l consider to be an ag-
gravation of your offense."
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
An Unnppreciative Listener.

A well known lawyer whose first
name is James has a brother whom he
visited lately. His brother has a
daughter aged four years. whose moth
er had lectured her few days before
for telling "stories." The lawyer, think
Ing to entertain the little one, took her
on his knee and told her two of his best
folklore tales. Instead Of being charm
ed. as he expected, ''she never smiled,
but when he had finished slid from his
knee. with solemn face, and, going to
her mother. said: Mamma, Uncle Jim
VIII go to the bad place sure. He has
Just told me two big stories '"-Kansas
City Journal
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11

When you buy cheese bear In mind
that all good cheese will be mellow TO
the touch. yet firm. The rind will be OF
an even tint, elastic and free from puffs
and sample will reveal firm. close.
buttery grain of n nutty flavor Cheese
which feels so hard that you cannot
dent II with your finger tips on the rind
is either sour, salted too heavily. skim
med or cooked too much. On the other
hand. II the rind breaks upon pressure
or does not spring back readily when
the finger Is withdrawn this indicates
an oversoft article. caused by the slack
cooling of the curd or a want of acid.
At best 1t will have an insipid flavor
and will "go of" as 1t ages.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
Did Nnt Look Right.

The intelligent conpositor, one of the
kind that figures in many an anecdote.
worked on an Arkansas paper at a
period when well known novelist was
editor One day the printer undertook
to set up the word "doughnut." He
spelled it "donut."
"See here" said the novelist, don't
you know how to spell 'doughnutf'
You've misspelled 1t here"
The intelligent compositor came over
and gazed at the proof and scratched
his head in perplexity.
"Well," he admitted, that doesn't
look right. but 1t had W. In 1t once,
and somehow that didn't look right
either"
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11

Health and Abiiit, TO work better
Than Morry nnd worry.

Health ana Abiiit, to work Better
Than Morry ana Worry.
Does wealth consist In money. houses,
lands. bank stocks. railroad bonds, CSC,
alone? We think not. The young -,nn
starting In life with no money. hut
with good digestion. good sleep. good
health and ability to work I'm some
profitable employment. has what the
aged capitalist would be glad to ex-
change MI his millions for.
What compensation Is money for
sleepless nights and painful days or
the misconduct of disslputed children
Which brings the greater happiness,
the glitter. show, jealouslcs aud falslty
of fashionable life or the heartfelt
friendships which Prevail 80 largely
I'm the homes of the industrious poor?
In how many of the palaces of our mil
lionaires will you find greater happi-
ness In the parlor than In the kitchen
How many mllionalres will tell you
that they are happier now than when
starting In life without Il dollar7
On the top Of mountains we find
rocks and ice and snow. 1t is down in
the valleys that we find the vineyards.
Let no man envy those richer than
himself until taking all things into
account--age. health, wife, children,
frlends-he Is sure he would be willing
to exchange. George j. Angel In Our
Dumb Animals.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
DISCREET lNDIscAgrIoN.
fiow the Insu bord inntfon Of n Dipio-
mat Averted uostirities.


An example that can never DC over.
looked when the right Of an ninbassa-
dor to exercise his own discretion IL In
question Is tnat which occurred In the
career of Lord Lyons when he was our
ambassador 10 the United States. lie
was II persona grata there. "All can
say, Lord Lyons, IL, Go thou und do
likewise.' wns Abraham Llncoin's
genial method of receiving the British
ambassadors announcement of the
Prince of Wales marriage. Lord Lyons
did not take the advice, but he remain
ed n very effective ambassador In
spite of his bachelorhood. When the
grave difficulty over the Mason and
Slldel case arose Lord Lyons was In
structed from home TO present an ultl-
matum. afford twelve hours for It's ac-
ceptance, and, the latter not being
forthcoming, he was TO break off rela-
tlons and leave the country. The
twelfth hour expired. Slidel and Ma
son were not surrendered and there re-
malned apparently only the dire pros
pect of war. "Give me another twelve
hours said Seward. the secretary of
state. II was an entire contradiction
of official orders. but. nevertheless, IL
WILL" said Lyons. From O o'clock that
night until O the next morning Seward
batted with the recalcitrants. Then
Lyons received an intimation that the
Confederate ENJOYS would be given up
So by the insubordlnatlon of an am.
bassador war was saved.-St James
Gazette.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
PEBBLES.

In the Memoir" of Robert Chambers
by his brother William is delightful
allusion to PEBBLES, their birthplace and
a spot ever warm In the loving men,
ory of Scotch residents.
One Of these, Il man who had lived
there all his life, was enabled by some
uplift of fortune to visit Paris. When
he came back his townsmen gravely
gathered about him.
''Noo,' said one. while the others lis
tened, "tell us aboot It."
"Paris," he began, IA things consid-
cred, is wonderful place; but. still.
PEBBLES for pleasure"
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11

The air of cities is impregnated with
dust and filth. To combat their dele
terious effects the streets should be
freely ventilated and watered. Wind
and rain are the great destroyers Of
dust. From the fields the wind lifts
the debris of vegetatlon-pollen seeds,
spores of fungi and bacteria; the dust
of the soil-silica, sillcate of alumni
ium, carbonate and phosphate of lime
and peroxide of iron. In and proceed
ing from volcanic regions fine particles
Of carbon and dried mud are taken up
and waited hundreds or even thou
sands of miles. In and round about
cities and towns the finely ground dust
of the pavements, fragments of straw,
hair, stable manure, debris of insects,
SCOT, epithella from floor sweepings OF
shaken from rugs, carpets and bedding,
together with gases and other volatile
emanations from factories, rendering
establishments, abattoirs. tanyards and
compost heaps of all sorts, though not
of the air, are in It, in so much as to
be in some degree almost everywhere
Observation-Disclosures.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11

People with weak dlgestions will al
ways be found to be fond Of condi-
ments, as the tendency of these things
is to stimulate the glands of the stom-
ach and cause them to produce larger
supply of digestive juices. Pepper,
mustard and other like spices stir up
the liver and are useful to people who
from necessity or other causes lead
sedentary lives. Vinegar dissolves the
cellulose In raw vegetables. and that is
why 1t tastes SO well with cabbages
and salads, for there Is no better judge
than the palate Of what is good for the
stomach. The oil is added because 1t
protects the stomach from the biting
acid.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
PHIL Mayo pnAeAliN.
An Experience the Artist Had with
n Rowing Conjurer.


An amusing story is told of the artist
Phil May and an English conjurer at
fair at Stratford- on Avon. Phil was In
the crowd which had gathered to watch
n very clever gentleman who was wrap
ping up sovereigns and half crowns In
pieces of paper and selling them for 2
shilllngs. The sharp" had beautiful
face-such face as Phil May loved TO
draw. So he sketched him furtively.
But the gentleman saw him and made
speech forthwith.
"If that there celebrited portrit paint
er with the tight breeches on will and
up the plcter. the equally celebrited
away qulds for coppers will reward i'm
accordingly" he shouted.
Phil. with twinkle In his eye, hand
ed up the drawing. The conJurer was
delighted with the sketch and pinned 1t
to the tuilboard of his cart. With an
other preliminary speech, lie threw
three sovereigns, three half soverelgns
and several half crowns into piece Of
paper, screwed 1t up and handed 1t to
the artist. you'll be president of the
bloomln' R'ynl academy some dye,
young man." said he. Here, catchP
"a bargains n bargain." said Phil,
walking Off with the packet of gold and
silver
He confessed afterward when he
opened the packet and found two pen
MES and u halfpenny in 1t that 1t was
the most entertaining commission he
had ever been paid for.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
THE SHIPS puRsER.
Some of the Things Tint Make His
Life mt Times n Harden.

Some of the Things Tint Make His
Life mt Times n Harden.
The lot of the purser Is anything but
a happy one. From his title one would
think that he had only to look after tie
finance Of the vessel, but in reality his
office, so conveniently and picturesque
ly situated at the top of the grand stair
case, Is really as busy bureau as any
In Capel court or Wall street II is no
doubt legitimate enough TO expect the
purser TO be quite au falt with the
monetary matters, TO explain to the
Britisher the difference between dol
lar and crown or TO the American
that the greenback Is treated with
scorn and contumely In Europe. but
our American friends are par excel
lence the interrogntors of the world,
and to them the purser is simply
walking encyclopedia.
He Is turected TO tell them all about
the ship-that's right enough-but they
want TO know all about the passengers
as well, who they are, where they have
come from and where they are going,
how much they are worth and any lit
tie tltblt of news about their social life.
lie is also asked about every hotel be-
ginning at Liverpool and ending at
Rome, the best shops whereat to pur-
chase different articles, who will give
the best discount for cash, where the
questioner's wife can best be rugged up
In European fashion and the most like
ly resort at which his daughter might
run across some impecunious scion of
British nobility. - Harry Furness in
GtrouI
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
Men who "were Literature"

Balzac and Hugo were the last Of
the great men whose inspiration was
unceasing and who did not make liter
ature, but who were literature. Bal
zac wrote a great story at n sitting
"A sitting that lasted for eighteen
hours. All that while he wrote, for
no secretary could keep pace with
him. and all that while he lived on
black coffee. Then he slept for thirty
hours. Hugo wrote "EIernanr' in n
month. and we can think of Balzac and
Hugo as we think OF the great Nene-
tian living in the glory and exultation
of constant creation. Veronese must
have improvised "'rhe Marriage Feast
at Cana" with extraordinary ease, and
like TO think he painted the immortal
fiddler in n morning and went out In
his gondola in the afternoon thinking
he had done a fair days work. That
was how men wrote and painted In the
great times before science beckoned
them away from the beautiful.-GeOrge
Moore I'm Lippincott's.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
The ErndIte PrIsnner,

"The charge ag'ln ye," the police JUS
tlce said. "ls burglary. What have ye
got to sayf"
"As TO that" replied the prisoner. a
scedy looking man who appeared to
have seen better days, 'if by the term
of burglary you mean the offense
which. according TO English law and
practice for centuries, has been clearly
defined Ms house breaking by night
the charge Is pnlpably ridiculous. The
policeman alleges that he detected me
I'm the act of breaking into II house yes
terday afternoon In broad daylight. If,
on the other hand. the term is made to
cover the same ofTcnse when committed
by day. which. | believe, is your absurd
American understanding of the word,
I'm II legal srlisp. shall have to concede
the correctness of the charge. your hon
or, reserving. however. the right to re-
gard with II species of contempt the
crude Jurisprudence of this country"
Take i'm back to Is cell" gasped
the police justice. an let i'm sober
up."-Chicngo Tribune.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
A Slave to Method.

A medical specialist was very much
in the habit of using notebook to as
slst his memory and insure precision.
In course of time 1t happened that his
aged father died. The worthy doctor
attended the obsequies as chief mourn
Dr. with due solemnity. At the close he
was observed to take out his notebook
and carefully to erase the words MEN.
Bury father."-Scottish American.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
Purely Conventional.

Agatha" said her mother. II don't
like to hear daughter of mine tell
even conventional lie. You know you
can't bear Aunt Becky, and yet when
she came the other day you said,
'Auntie, how glad am to see you'll"
'"rhat wasn't lie, mamma" answer
ed Agatha. "That was an exclama-
tion."-Chicago Tribune.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
The Hama Product

II should think you would be am
bilious for political distinction"
mo-" answered Mr. Cumrox, 81 don't
care for 1t. My daughter has studied
painting and her pictures of me are
funny enough without calling in the
aid of any professional cartoonist."-
Washington Star.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
Bnd Attack of Paralysis.

Gentlemap-You can't work on ac-
count of paralysis! Nonsense You
look as strong as I do.
Tramp--Well. ye see, boss, it's pa
ralysis of de will dat I'm troubled wit
Exchange.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11
Translated.

II heard her boasting that her dinner
party was success from the begin
ming and ended with the greatest
'eelaw.' What's 'eclaw,' anywayT
. "Why-er-that was the dessert. of
course. Didn't you ever eat a 'choco-
late eclawr "-Exchange.