davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20
A DANGEROUS LIQUID.

A solid gold bottle stood on the
chemists table. SIN that bottle" he
said, my hydrofiuoric acid is kept.
Hydroffuoric acid is used in glass
etching, says the Philadelphia Bulle,
tin. The etching on glass thermome
tiers is all done with it. 1t is color
less. 1t looks like water. But dror
of it on your hand would bore clean
through to the other side like bu!
let. Its inhalation is sure death.
"Hydrofuoric acid can be kept safe
ly in gold bottles alone Sometimes
bottles of india-rubber, of lead or of
platinum are used. None of these,
though, is as safe as gold.
Even when this acid is in gold
bottle precautions must be taken with
it. 1t is votalile, and hence a para
uncovered plate must be clamped
tight over the bottles mouth. Also.
the temperature of the room must not
rise over sixty degrees, or the gold
bottle will burst.
This acid whose sole use is in
glass etching, is probably the most
dangerous thing in the world to work
WITH. The steeple-iack, the lion
tanner, the diver, even the Japanese
and Russian soldiers, do not take
Their lives in their hands to half the
extent the glass etcher does when
with his gold vial of hydrofiuoric acid
he etches the scales of our thermo,n-
eters."
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20
No Club. For Her

The woman shook her head when
her caller asked her to join the
Every Other Bridge Whist Club"
"No. will not she said. "Of
cou' Sc I'm awfully pleased that
you've asked me and the members
are all my crowd and I'd have good
times at the meetings.; but I've made
one resolution this fall, and that is
l won't be Joiner Every fall l
come back rested and full of energy
from my long summer vacation and !
readily accept invitations to join all
sorts of clubs. BY the middle of the
winter I'm dubbed to death and 1t
is bore to me to attend the meet
4ngs.
81 simply have an attack Of club
nerves and am ready to go into hys-
terics if anyone mentions parliament
tary law, whist prizes or committees
to me. don't have time to do a
single restful thing, read even one
book, or 90 anything worth while.
simply go from one club to the 9TH
err. eating all sorts of sweet concoc.
tons and running my digestion.
don't. have time to get acquainted
with my family, hardly. So while
feel now that l have energy enough
to join ten clubs, am going to join
just two and see if can get through
the winter without having my annual
attack of nerves.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20

ekANNf" M'DosALD years and ten, and
is reduced to mere shadow, all Of
her faculties, with the exception of
sight, are as keen as those Aof a per-
son half her age. She is now totally
blind
Her four granlsons, ranging from
60 to 70 years in age, come to see her
regularly. and until his death oc-
Cured. about month and half ago.
her son-in-law. who was past 90, came
to see her whenever he could.
r. Granny was born In Frogtown,
near Valley Forge, Nov. IA, 1771, and
when 4 years old went to live with u
family named Howell, growing up in
their service. She has outlived all Of
them and their sons and grandsons.
She remembers distinctly incidents
connected with the Continental aimy's
terrible winter at Valley Forge and
the correctness of her statements was
proved recently by one of the Daugh-
tiers of the Revolution. who inyesti-
gated them.
She y deeply religious, and pf sach
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20

You don't know why you woke UP
80 early, for it is still dark, and sleep
is precious to farmers boy of IA.
Then you suddenly remember that you
are going hunting, and you hustle
into your boots, homespun pants and
shirt and dads coat, borrowed because
it has big pockets.
Down in the kitchen shed you find
the old muzzle-loading rifle, the box
of caps, the wad of woodchuck skin
patches, tile handful of silvery bullets,
which you nodded last night over the
fire log with molds like a pair OF
pinccrs, with lorcobs in the handles.
The old dog rises, shivcrlng, from
his place on the door mat, as you GO
out. and is warned to stay at home.
Already the unseen sun is making
things gray and the swinging leaves
on the silver maple in sisters garden
show white undersldes. In the milk.
yard the cows get up and stretch
Down in the pasture are layers of mist
that feel warm and moist against
your face. The edge of the woods is
mere black line. as you so down the
long, narrow, crooked cowpath, cir.
cling stumps about which the poke
berries, mullen and briars grow, leap.
ing little moist hollows that are check
ed with marks of the cattle's feet, and
wondering II those hard wrinkles in
your cowhides will wear the skin on
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20
THE cuTTLE.F1sH.

Among the rarer specimens of sea
jewellers, seldom found on the Jersey
coast except after a southeast storm
on an unusually high tide, is the cut
fetish. The common form of this ami
NAL, called squid, bears little resemb-
lance to the fabulous monster of the
same family, described by Victor HUI
go in 1.-THE Toilers of the Sea-" known
as the devil-fish.
The Jersey variety measures only
about nine inches in length or eigh-
teen inches If the length of its long
est arms is included While less i'm
posing than its ferocious and mythical
brother it is quite as interesting, and,
though rather repulsive in its gener-
al appearance, the beautiful tints of
the body when exposed to the surface
compel our admiration.
1t Is the most highly developed of
the animals who are without a back
bone, and the only one of this class
possessing distinct covering, or
skull, for the brain. The sense or
gans, too, are more developed. The
great round eyes on either side of the
head are almost as perfect as those
OF. the, highest animals. It has ten
arms, or feet rather, two of them
n,uch longer than the others, upon
which it walks or creeps about, head
downward. These are furnished at
the end with hollow discs which act
as suction cups and enable it to cling
to whatever it chooses to attach it
self. 1t cannot only entwine its arms
about an object but can stick to it by
means of its sucking discs Any boy
who has lifted heavy weights with a
sucker" and string will understand
how the cuttle-fish can hold on.
Most cuttle-fish are provided with
an ink-like substance, known as Sc
pia, or true India ink, which is their
principal means of self-protection
When assailed by enemies, instead of
boldly giving battle they wisely avoid
too powerful opponents by clouding
the water with heavy discharge OF
sepia and escaping under cover of the
darkness. If the quantity discharged
is very copious it often proves deadly
to the foe
Tie cutie bone, familiar in connec
ton with the keeping of canary birds
is found in the back of some species
Of cuttle-flsh.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20
a TWO Headed 1urtle.

A perfect two headed turtle is a
very unusual animal, but there is
one in captivity in Washington now
that has excited considerable curios-
ity among the snake sharps of the
National Museum.
The turtle is very plain little Eel
low, and is now in the possession of
local bird fancier. 1t was captured
over in Virginia some time ago and
brought to this city by hunter. 1t
is about as big as silver dollar, and
looks like an ordinary young land
turtle, except that there are two per-
fectly developed heads sticking out
of its shell. Otherwise it seems to
be perfectly noraal Just what its
arrangements are inside, no one
knows, but it eats with both mouths
and winks its four little beadlike
eyes in blocks of two," each head
being Indifferent to the others per-
Torrance in this regard.
1t has but one tail and the usual
turtle complement of four legs. The
owner is making a determined efforts
to raise it, and the little fellow will
not be cut open to investigate his IN
terror department SO long as he con-
SCENTS to feed on flies and fresh meat,
which just now constitutes the chief
part of his diet.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20

will turn down the lights and fol, Ghost
stories till midnight y Tbe yorna nennla
fell in with the shirt of finn md Ghosts
walked. hobpobbI;ns sbr;oLaJ ND sho,,,.,
moaned. till tho more t;nid hanca eao eas
mercy io'
i. nos .,,oa.
VOW ro;na snass ss .M 80, CLOCK wheh a
nnm ao,.e s"Iuen.s proke ihto moment
a.. a.. pau.e' ryohe looked UP TO see
CIV friends y bo sold ..,nn 49, e.. ;.
NOT Of tbe shirts If tba ,nsoon n n.o.i, -
If is of a lad who onne on n n;, Mori ,:,.
this. left home and fr;onds amS nt u ahe
out into tho wide world With NJ; ven.
the nriestcss who nresidea ~ tho aI.a 10
where burned tbe fires Of lie amh it;a,'
Shipwreck. n weary s;ckness and do,ir.
erance misc,rried Letter rot,r,aa "a
its writer long afterward-all these came
to the lad, and when at last. overcome
by the deadly 'heimweh.' he turned to-
ward his home, he found it empty-the
loved ones gone. The years have passed
and the lad is man, but the father and
the mother he has not found. nor does
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20
NATURES POCKET

Chipmunks. squirrels and ground
squirrels take food in their mouths
and with their tongues push it out be-
tween the teeth into an elastic pouch
connecting with the MOUTH, thus ex-
tending the checks. The pocket goph-
ers have pockets outside the mouth
along the front of the cheeks. These
pockets extend back under the skin
to the shoulders, and are filled and
emptied by the aid of the fore feet and
claws. They are often stuffed SO full
oil pieces of roots, stems and leaves
as to give very ludicrous appearance
TO the little animal. Roots and stems
are cut into pieces about an inch long
and packed lengthwise Leaves are
folded or rolled to fill the smallest
space.-St. Nicholas.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
according to Tommy

The trees In our orchard and down by the
well
In summer time give US our cider and
fell;
The apples and peaches, the ounces and
pears,
The piums can pick from my window up
stairs,
All grow in the summer; and oh! It's a
treat
30 have all the nice juicy fruit you can
eat
Eut none of the summer stuff satisfies me
like that which we pick from the Christ
ohe fruit of the summer Is good in its
place
With stone.bruisy feet and with tan on
your face
Its fine to climb up where the robbins
have found
And take 1t away from the robber so bold
While he and his mate fly around you and
scold
It's fun ut the time, but 1t never could be
One time l remember my bad cousin Jim
Dared Charley and me to climb out on
limb
No bigger than one of my thumbs; and l
Cause ~ Jimmy u, was calling me "sissy-boy
The limb-well, you're certain what hap
.pened, guess
And Jim got a whipping; cause big sister
Bess
Told Jlm's pa and ma what happened to
never fell out of Christmas tree.
The Christmas tree grows In n night, and
1t bears
Things lots and lots nicer than apples and
pears
I've seen OH Its branches doll-babies and
drums
Ard ctn c,,l hi cuuo
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20
WHERE THE DANDELIoNs WENT

Three little dandelions, each in vel.
low gown,
Stood beside the winding road that
led to Londontown.
They heard the merry children. they
saw the travellers pass,
And they said to one another, How
sad it is, alas!
That we, too, may not travel and view
the world beyond;
We've never even climbed the hill or
seen across the pond"
Three little dandelions, each in gown
of gold,
Taller grew each summer day in the
leafy mold,
Yet they stood on tiptoe and peered
through sun and rain,
To see If it was England that lay be.
You'd, or opain.
One said she saw chimneys, and an
other smoke and SCOT,
While the third saw ships a-sailing
but they never moved foot.
Three little dandelions, each in gown
of white,
Laid their plans to travel on dewy
night,
And, while cooling breezes famed the
waking day,
Spread their wings and vanished, oh
SO far away!
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20
KIPLlNG THE ROY.

When Rudyard Kipling, the famous
writer, was lad, he went on a sea
voyage with his father, Lockwood
k1pling. Soon after the vessel got I'M
der way Mr.. Kipnss went below, leav.
Ing the boy on deck. Presently there
was great connection overhead, and
one of the officers ran down and bang
ed at Mr.. Kipling's d, or.
Mr.. Kpling," he cried, your boy
has crawled out on the yard-arm, and,
If he lets go. he'll drown!"
Yes" said Mr.. Kipling, glad to
know that nothing serious was the
matter, but he won't let CO."
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20

comes up with rush. Long lanes OK
gold spring out between the tres
trunks. The broad oak leaves in the
hollows sparkle with moisture. The
moss on the north side of the white 4
beeches look like ink. A chipmunk
whistles and scurries into his hole at
your feet. A red squirrel springs his
rattle furiously from a nearby limb:
A crow pitches from the bare top OF a.
dead elm, with horrible "CawE
None of these Is your game today;
To-day you are hunter. There's NO
fresh meat in the house. 1t has been
Goldfish or salt pork pretty much All
summer, and today your gun is load.
ed with necessity.
What's that? Something run down
that maple! Thump! thump! goes
your heart. Pshaw! 1t was only q
falling leaf, but you step softly and
the humming of the bumble-bee, who
has been drunk all night on that thor
oughwort, over at your left. sounds
like the beating of bass drum. Therei
Stand still! Don't move musclel A
small head of gray, with two alert
ears, two bright eyes and n mouth full
of something is peeping around the
trunk of that shag-bar hickory. It's
an awful small mark! Stand like "
statue. Don't move an eyelash. Mos
auitoes, stirred up from the nettles In
the wet spots at your feet. alight ON
your nose and ears. Don't stir! That's
gray squirrel on that hickory. Down
he comes and perches confidently on
the base of the tree. with his fne
bushy tail curled gracefully over his
back. Crack! That's one.
There's stream OF shucks pouring
down from that beech over yonderss
Crack! That's two. &
There are two more from the chest
nut trees in the fence corner, and an
other from n rail Of the corn lot fence
The four miles tramp and two hours
time pass for nothing. You string the
squirrels by passing a withes through
a slit in their lower lips, tie the string
consplcuously on your person, regard
less Of blood and dirt, and walk back
to the house full of pride, triumph.
self glory and most other vanities save
food. And Lord! how hungry You arel;
You take your game to the chip pile.
You chop of head, feet and tail Of
each. You slit the hide on the back,
insert finger at either side OF the
slit, give pull in opposite directions.
aud there you have the skinnlng. DONE.
While you are helping at the milk
ing mother mixes squirrel and dough
ana gravy over the stove, and at 3 ..
m. you sit down to a feast that the
gods might well fight for.
You haven't, like Emperor William
and other royalty, sat in a chair and
slain twenty deer that were driven
past you. But you have had what
they never had, and what is only pos
sibIe fora boy who can wonder at the
sun, see majesty in the great trees,
feel the comforting solitude Of thu
deep woods and have somewhat Of
love for allsthat Is In them. Cincinnati
Post.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20
shadow of the old bell tower, home to
Elspeth, whose mother-heart came near
to bursting, with the joy of sons home
coming.-The Honsekeeper.
CHRISTMAS EVE IN BETHLEHEM.
observances in fhe Christian Town Set
in the Heart of Moham III edanism.

in the Heart of Mohammedanism
Bethlehem, the central spot of interest
in the Holy Land at Cbristmastide, is a
Christian town set in the heart of Mo-
fammedanism, where once year the
Greek church grants the use of the grot-
to of the Nativity to the Latin church,
says London Sphere, The ceremonies be.
gin on Dec. "a by the image of the
youthful Christ being carried from the
basilica of st. Helena to the sacred
grotto of the Nativity. where the tradi-
tional spot of Christ's birth is marked by
n silver star set in the rocky pavement.
The service begins Mt 10 o'clock in fine
evening. 1t opens with tbe chanting Of
psalms without any musico, accountant.
ment. The patriarch of 'Ierusalem msn.
ally of1iciates in tba crotto hut IN tbis
occasion he is represented Inv the Latin
bishop. The interior of tbo nl,,,r,L l.
most picturesque. for there ore onlv n
few chairs provided for foro;gn v;s;tors
while the bulk of the congracot;on Is
made UP of the Reth,om;to n.n,nan H.,
their blue dresses With rod front,ots
wearing peaked cans when m,rred and
fiat caps covered Inv White vails wban
single.
As they enter tba chprcb ,hoy ~ frs,
kneel down and then sit mon tho rronnd
in true oriental fashion an tba dimiv
lighted church" saws ona who has soon
the service. "tbese son,ttin. vorico,orea
figures, with their benntiful focos IL IN
by fits and starts Inv flashes Of Tho ., NJ ~
dies, intent ON devotion soem l;,,o 60
many modern Mndonnns come 70 ooia,
brate the glory Of tho fret SJadonno ,,
Precisely nj midnicht tho non,;Gool
high mass is celehr, ted Tho f Gn' Of
Christ is brought in n h, s,,at nd aanos.
tied upon the hiyh altar and tho nrnnos zoos
sion forms to occomn,nv If "a ,bo p ar,,,,t
As tho Iono cbont;n,, rna,.as.;.' ~.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20
New Years in France.

New Years in France Is a greater
day for exchanging gifts than Christmas.
The custom of New Years calls, once
so popular in this country, but now fallen
almost into disuse, is still supreme in
Paris. Great family dinners. in which
the orange figures most prominently. add
to the gayety of the day. So crowded
are the pavements on the boulevards
that pedestrians sometimes have to take
the middle Of the street.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20
. HRISTMAS tide has come again
and all the little children are
thinking about Santa Claus, and

~ some are wondering if he will
come to their house this time.
There is hardly any reason for any child
TO believe that he will not come A
good many things change in this world,
but on Christmas Eve merry old Santa
Claus is always heard of-hs hair as
white, his nose as red, as ever; his bag
of toys just as full; his cry down the
chimney of ANY good children here 2"
just as loud
Kris Kringle is another name for
Santa Claus, and a very good name,
too; and stockings are not the only things
that hold toys. Little German peasant
children often set their wooden shoes
on the hearth on Christmas eve, pretty
sure of cake and toy; for children
however poor their parents may be, are
made much of in Germany. And in some
places in Europe curious thing hap
pens. The mother. the father and the
rest of the family sit about the fire to-
gether on Christmas eve.
All the room is tidy. The children.
half hopeful, half terrified, draw close
to mother. father, or grandmothers. as
they hear sound of trumpets or horns
outside Then the mother says: "What
can this be!" and opens the door. AS
she does so, a number of very strange
looking figures come in-amongst them
one person dressed in white, with wigs,
and great basket in his hand. and an
other in black, with bunch of rods.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20

ITCHY of her claim
that she was born
at Valley Forge in
III has been es-
tabllshed by the
Philadelphia pa
plers. Granny"
Mcdonald is a ne
gress. Although
she has lived near
ly twice the allot-
ted bre e score
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20
Individuality in G fits

The personality of the giver expressed
in the wrappinss about the Christmas
gift adds value to the simplest Offering
After all. it is the spirit of the giver
rather than the gift itself which gives
the greatest pleasure. The favorite rib.
hon, the slip of mistletoe. the color of
the tissue paper covering, the card which
bears the Christmas greeting, all express
love and well-wishing.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20
QUEER CHRISTMAS GIFTS.


SIndl IdTt1Cle6 OF Naulu" presented
by London Women.
There is this to be said of the latest
fad of London society women-the Civ
ing Of small particles of radium as
Christmas presents--that none of the re-
cipients can complain of having received
a cheap gift. To give radium in this
way costs from SO to $50, the outfit
necessary therefor consisting of a spin
thariscope" and speck of the new metal
hardly big enough to be seen with the
naked eye. -
Sir William Crookes, the English SCI
enlist, invented the spinthariscope, which
is kind of microscope through which
small quantities of the precious stuff
can be examined to better advantage.
The spinthariscope sold by London
chemist who has the radium monopoly is
about the size of finger ring case and
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20

sunny, gentle disposition that she il
the fayorite Of the home. For hours
at time she will Groom old hymns,
and when asked which is her fayorite.
says: .;ss;i {
ut don't make no ;difrerence. so long
as it's all from the Lord
After each meal she smokes her
pipe, and has done SO nearly ali Of
her life. III s,'s -
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20

has an. opening for the eye something
like that in child's kaleidoscope. By
taking the apparatus into darkened
room and squirting through the eyehols
one can see flashes of constantly varying
light shooting in all directions, like min,
iature fireworks.
The idea of making Christmas gifts
of radium has proved uncommonly in
fectious, and the run on the chemists
stock necessitated hasty communication
with the firms in Bavaria and Austria
who supply England.-Washingto Post.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20

A simple and tasteful homemade pic.
ture frame may be constructed from
common gas pipe cut into suitable length
and tied together at the corners with
shoe strings. A neat paper weight may
be made by wrapping half brick in
paper such as butchers use and tying it
with red tape. A dainty towel rack
may be fabricated from baseball bat
and two cigar boxes. Shellac the boxes
and sandpaper the bat. An ordinary
cobblestone hand painted with lampblack
and household ammonia makes an excel
lent door weight. A novel pipe rack for
fastidious smokers may he made from a
small strip of one-inch plank. Bore holes
in it for the stems of the pipes to pass
through A dried muskmelon shell makes
an attractive tobacco Jar.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-20
Children of the Heavenly King
As We journey sweetly sing,
Sing your Saviour's worthy praise
Glorious In his works and ways.


Then, as the last reluctant echo died
away, he stumbled down the narrow
stairs toward home and Elspeth
Not far from the tower stood man
sion. where great throng had assem-
bed to watch the old year out and the
new year in. Silken draperies rustled,
jewels cleaned, music rippled on the
perfumed air, and happy voices rang
sweet and high. But every sound was
silenced, and bright eyes grew dim in
the flood of melody which suddenly
poured about the gay throng. They
crowded toward the music room, trying
TO catch a glimpse of the player Those
who were near saw slender man. with
fair curling hair brushed back from n
brow as pure as woman's. Quietly he
sat before the grand piano. playing with
out the slightest effort such masterful
music as had hushed the listeners to
awe-struck silence.
who is he?" was the question passed
from one to another.
HE is friend of fathers" the
hostess told them. FEATHER met him
abroad some years ago, and by helping
him in n search for some missing friends,
won his heart Father invited him here
for the holidays this year, but he de-
clned the invitation. then this evening
suddenly and Unexpectedly appeared.
These great musicians are always eccen-
trio, you know. / heard him tell father
that this is an anniversary he does not
like to spend alone.
At eleven o'clock the hostess seated
her guests in q circle saying, Now we