davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-02-06
TRICK SHOOTING.
The Way Some of the Stage Feats Are
Accomplished.

The Way Some of the Stage Feats Are
Accomplished.
When a champion rifle shot fires
blindfolded at wedding ring or a
penny held between his wife's
thumb and finger or seated back to
her shoots, by means of mirror, at
an apple upon her head or on a
fork held in her teeth, the danger
of using bullet is obvious. None,
of course, is needed. The explo-
sion is enough. The apple is al
ready prepared, having been cut
into pieces and stuck together with
an adhesive substance, and a thread
with a knot at the end, pulled
through it from the "wings," SO
that it flies to bits when the gun is
fired, is chow it is DONE"
Generally the more dangerous a
feat appears the more carefully is
all danger guarded against. In the
civilian Tell" act the thread is
often tied to the assistants foot.
When, again, the ash is shot off
cigar which the assistant is smok-
ing a piece Of wire is pushed by his
tongue through a hollow passage in
the cigar, thus thrusting off the ash
at the moment of firing.
A favorite but simple trick is the
shooting from some distance at an
orange held in a lady's hand. Great
applause is invariably Forthcoming
when the bullet drops out on her
cutting open the fruit. 1t is insert
ed by hand earlier in the evening.
Another popular trick is that Of
snufing out lighted candles. Half
a dozen are placed in front of
screen, in which as many small
holes are bored, one against each
candle wick. At the moment of
firing confederate behind the
screen sharply blows out each can
die with a pair of bellows.
In most instances where ball or
other object has to be broken on a
living PERSONS head blank car
fridge is used and the effect pro-
duced by other means. A special
wig with a spring concealed in it
worked by wire under the clothes
is generally used, the confederate
manipulating the spring simulta-
neou8ly with the firing Of the rife.
As the ball is of extremely thin
glass, a mere touch sufices to shat
ter it.
In these exhibitions some of the
rifle experts" invite gentlemen
from the audience to testify that
the weapon is indeed loaded. The
cartridge shown looks very well, but
it is a shell of thin wax blackened
to resemble a leaden bullet. 1t
would not hurt fy.-London Tit
Bits.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-02-06
BRIGGS.

Who says that this is not thriv-
ing little hamlet among the noun
tains when we have, besides church
and school, two stores, a millinery
shop, two blacksmith shops, two
chair stretcher and one board mill,
and another mill in view, and a cob
bier also have saws and whistles,
and are never worried about old
debts.
The remains of Mrs. Harriet Had
ley were brought here from Wood
stock for interment Jan. 28; and the
remains of Stephen Sanderson were
brought the 26th. Both were for
merly of this town.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-02-06

use insoad of one-half going to the
town.
Another bill which became law
provide that licensed places must be
located near the centers of popula-
ton and not within two miles of the
state line.
Other measures of more or less in
terest which have been signed by the
governor are:
The general increase in salaries OF
State officials including the members
of the le gislature of 1908 and future
Legislators.
Limiting the speed of automobiles
on entering or leaving bridges to six
miles an hour.
Preventing the spread Of bovine
tuberculosis by creameries.
Empowering towns and cities and
incorporated villages to appropriate
money for agricultural fairs.
Putting the sheriffs of the State
on a salary basis
Raising the salary of several States
attorneys and judges of probate.
Autho izing railroads to grant
special rates for fairs and schools.
Permi ting officials of towns and
cities to sell liquors that have been
seized.
Prohibiting the adulteration of
paints.
Providing for a State board of
education.
Prohibiting the depositing of sew
erage in ponds and lakes wholly
within this State.
Requiring action against towns
for accidents on highways to be COM
menced within two years
Limiting the number Of brook
trout to be caught in one day to 10
pounds md lake trout to 25 pounds.
Permitting shooting of does in the
open season.
Provir ing for the destruction of
Intoxicating liquor found in the pos
session of persons convicted Of intox-
ication.
Appropriating $l0000in the next
two years for the State fair, and
$25,000 for the tercentenary exposi-
tion.
Provioing bounty of two dollars
on bobca;s.
Regul ting the use of poisonous
drugs.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-02-06
SOUTH POMFRET.
ABBOTT LIBRARY NOTES.

The following persons have re-
membered us with calendars Mrs
H. H. Totmun, Mrs, William Adams,
Mrs. L. A. Munger, and Corydon S
Miller.
From Miss A. F. Anderson Of
Lowell, Mass, and Mrs. NJ. A. Grosve-
nor of Peabody, Mass we have re-
ceived some fine books for girls
From Corydon S. Miller has come
the Animal Report of the Smithso-
nian Institution, 1903," and the
"Twenty-frst annual report of the
bureau of American Ethnology."
From Miss L. f. Clarke, Boston,
we have received five copies Of
Charities and the Commons" be
ginning with Dec. 5, 1908.
Our townspeople ought to read
these magazines and learn what our
charitable organizations ure doing
Mrs. A. NJ. Bruce has sent one vol
ume of The Vermonter and Mrs.
Harry Buckman one year of The
Ladies Home journal, and A. G..
Pratt goodly number of Christian
Heralds.
Many of our Pomfret people have
been expressing a wish that there
might be in the library portrait of
their highly esteemed tewnsman, the
late Edwin S. Jackman. This wish
of theirs has been realized by such a
gift from his daughters, Mrs Mary
Jackman Bowers, of Canton, N. Y,
and Mrs. Grace Jackman Leavitt, of
East Barnard.
ABBA DoToN CHAMBERLIN,
Librarian.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-02-06
Coda Book Humor.

Glimpses and flashes of humor in
official documents are few and far be-
tween and are generally of an uncon-
scious type. 1t appears that new
code book has recently been intro
duced for purposes of communication
between the mother country and her
colonies, and owing to misunder-
standing a message dispatched In the
language of the old code was trans
lated with the aid of the new one. The
message should have read, please ask
Johnson to report alterations in six 10
comotive boilers" 1t was decoded as
follows: "Can you sell Johnson thirty
one hundredweight Of hopeless luna
tics F"-Westminster Gazette.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-02-06
Caught.

In Philadelphia they tell story
of man whose wife had arranged
an authors evening" and persuad-
ed her reluctant husband to remain
at home and help her receive the
fifty guests who were asked to par
ticipate in this intellectual feast.
The first author was dull enough,
but the second was worse. More
over, the rooms were intolerably
warm. So, on pretense of letting
in some cool air, the unfortunate
host escaped to the hall, where he
found a servant comfortably asleep
on the settee.
''Wake up!" sternly commanded
the Philadelphia in the mans ear.
"Wake up, l sayl You must have
been listening at the keyhole !"-
Harper's Magazine.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-02-06
How seminoIes Bury Thelr Dead.

Seminoles bury their dead on top
of the ground after wrapping them
in blankets, but always leave the top
of the head exposed. They build
pen over the body and usually chink
It with earth. When his squaw dies
the husband wears his shirt until it
rots off, which is not strikingly dis.
tinctive. When the husband dies
the squaw doesn't comb her hair for
three months. Little reverence is
shown for the dead. When Tom
Tigers grave was robbed and his
bones taken for exhibition the out
cry over the desecration was almost
wholly a newspaper affair. The
nearest settlers were unalarmed and
the Indians Indifferent. - Golfers,
Weekly. ,v.,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-02-06
The Vermont Association of
Boston.

Maple syrup, popcorn and cider
impaired a Green Mountain atmos-
phere to the 53d annual dinner of
the Vermont Association of Boston
at the Hotel Vendome Jan. 28, Isaac
B Clark presided.
At the business meeting the fol-
lowing ficers we're elected: Presi-
dent, lisa rc b. Clark; vice. presidents,
Charles <, Darling, William Craig:
secretary, Edmond A, Burnham, and
treasurer, Fred G. Holden.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-02-06
Some of the New Laws.

Among the laws just passed by the
Vermont Legislature are the fellow d.
ing:
A summary of the more important
amendments to the present license
law shows that second class licenses
are regulated, requiring sales to be
made to a customer personally and
forbidding the express team features
of licensed places.
Another amendment to this law
put all the fees received for licenses
into the state treasury for general
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-02-06

The oldest house In Dennis, Mass,
II not the oldest on Cape Cod, is that
Of T. G. Hall. William Howes of
Florida states that he possesses the
1706 almanac In which Prince Howes
Sd kept his diary and that in it there
is an account for the carpentering
work OH the house In 1713.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-02-06

The { Conant house in Hartland,
built by James ellison over 100 years
ago, is made entirely from m lterial
secured from land adjoining. The
brick wa made there, and so were
the nails and the timber grew there.
1t has 10 large rooms with three more
in an ell and is a home made house
in every sense.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-02-06

F. Fl. Hyde has bought of Gibbs &
Wheeler the trotting mare Miller, an
eight year old with track record of
2.SO.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-02-06

without merit in the auditory
scheme they jangle without sweet
ness, tune Or rhythm; and have the
quality Of giant cow-bells. The talk
and tongue-fghts of the gondohers
are intense and emphatic and hit the
sleeping tourist hardest at first. At
the time of first mass, A a. m, or in
Western language } of the last drink
l a. M, so much discussion seems
unnecessary; yet it is human and
one learns at last to pardon his gon
dolier and wish him any JOY he can
get out of pure phonation.
And after all it is the tongues of
Venice - the everlasting song, or
shout, Or call, or objurgations, the
CALCULATIONS, expostulations, argu-
mentations - these make up the
city's undercurrent of sound, and
correspond feebly to the crunching
of the trolley and the noise of wheels
generally in an ordinary urban life.
The air Of Venice is clear and carries
far; it is easy to exchange excited
comments upon nothing across a
water street twice the width of Broad
way. The Venetian never articulates
gently when he has anything te say,
but puts all the feeling of a dramatic
song into casual observation. This
is not saying exactly that the Vene-
tians have loud voices, but that they
talk very loud, at least in the open
air.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-02-06
The Noises.

The )ises of Venice are unique,
variegated, surprising there is moth
ing western in them, nor oriental,
not even Byzantine. The softest and
sweetest but stupidest sound is the
cooing of the doves which has vol
ume only on San Marco. There is
no song Of birds except these. At
the other extreme come the scream
of the government siren, the boom
of the cannon three times day and
the piercing whistle of the penny
steamer. This is a soul and sleep
destroying engine of an otherwise
bene6cent agent in the transporta-
ton system of Venice. The church
bells seem more bearable and are not
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15
German RYEpR

We want to impress on our readers
that Boschee's German Syrup is
positively the ;sonIy preparation on
the market today that does relieve
and cure consumption. Tt contains
the specifice, such as pare tar, ex-
tracts of gum, etc, etc., which have
been so highly endorsed for the cure
of coughs, colds and consumption
by the great medical congresses
The consumptive, whether his disease
is in the throat or lungs, must have
rest at night, aud be free from the
spasm of dry aud racking cough in
the morning. The diseased parts
want rest, nealing and soothing
tseatment, and the patient needs
fresh air, good food, etc, German
Syrup will give free and easy ex-
pectoration in the morning with
speedy and permanent relief. Small
bottles rs cents; regular size, con-
tanning nearly four times as much,
70 cents. AT Frost h Spies
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15
Lead Shot,

We owe lead shot to Watts, a
Bristol plumber, who dreamed that
while repairing church roof his
foot slipped and a ladle of molten
lead that he was carrying fell to the
ground and that on descending to
recover his property he found that
the metal had assumed, instead Of
the silver plaque he had expected,
the form of countless minute glob-
ules. Curiosity led him next day
to repeat, so far as he could, the ac-
cident of his dream. A like result
followed, and the lucky dreamer ul-
timately made handsome fortune.
London Chronicle.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15
How Long q Tree Lives.

Inquiry as to the general age OF
trees being put to an authority OF
the forestry service at Washington,
it was said that the pine tree attain
ed 700 years as maximum length
of life. Four hundred and twenty
five years was the allotted span OF
the silver fir. The larch lived 275
years, the red beech 245, the aspen
21O, the birch 200, the ash 40, the
elder 145 and. the elm $50. The
heart of the oak begins to rot at
about the age of 800 years, OF the
holly it is said that there is speci-
men 40 years old near Aschaffen-
burg, Germany. = Chicago Record
Herald.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15
Early Italian Surgery.

Benvenuto Cellini C5O0-157D tells of
early Italian surgery. He had got a
bit of Clipped steel in his eye. 80 far
into the pupil that 1t was impossible
to get 1t out. so that | was in very
great danger Of losing that eye. But
the surgeon came to the rescue with
the pigeons. The surgeon, making me
lie upon my back. with little knife
opened vein in each Of their wings,
30 that the blood ran into my eye, and
1 was thereby greatly relieved. In the
space Of two days the bit Of steel is
sued from my eye. and l found that /
had received considerable ease and in
4 great measure recovered my sight"
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15
Notes From Washington
From our Regular Correspondent.

From our Regular Correspondent.
The announcement that the
Senate bill will be ready this
week is hailed with delight IN
Washington. The touch OF
genuine spring weather at the
capital this week has made the
Senators, Representatives and
Others who must remain in
Washington until the tariff ques-
ton is out of the way, more anx-
ious than every for an early ad-
journment. Night sessions have
begun and from this time until
the schedules are completed
both afternoon and night sessions
of the Finance mittee will
be executive.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15
A Thackeray Story.

A correspondent Of London Notes
and Queries contributes this anecdote
Of Thackeray:
Thackeray once desired to succeed
Cardwell as NJ. r. for the city of Ok
ford and when returning from his cam
yass said: "What do you think, Card
we'll! Not one of your constituents
ever heard of me and my writings"
He prefaced constituents" with a
strongish adjective.
Strange, If true. They must have
been starving in the midst of plenty.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15
Alfalfa and Water.

To grow alfalfa we must nrst Of all
provide a soil which is dry by nature
or which is underdrained. II we dig
q post hole four feet deep and nnd wa
ter we may know that alfalfa will not
grow there. There is an old saying
which expresses this, Alfalfa will not
grow with wet feet" Though 1t seeks
water In q deeper soil and the roots
penetrate very deeply indeed in an old
field, we must not expect it to grow
where the water rises to within fouy
eoet Of Ne surface.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15

Under the above heading
the Metcalf OILY Journal
prints the following editorial
appeal. It would be a good
item for other papers to copy;
Just about now the mail
order houses of our large
cities, with an eye for the
spring trade of the smaller
cities or towns and of the
farmer, are sending out bulky
and Elusive catalogues by the
Thousand. Experience proves
that, taking all things into
account, to buy of such houses
costs more and bring less sat-
isfaction than to buy Of the
home merchants. Money
sent out of town to these
houses for what can be
bought equally as well at
home is just SO much check
to the growth and prosperity
of the home town, and OF the
farmers and other who find in
the town a ready market for
their eggs, butter and other
produce.
There never was a preacher
or president, poet or politi-
clan, who could please every
body. There never was a
thinker or a tailor, soldier or
sailor who could suit all.
Show us a doctor, a lawyer, a
merchant or an editor who
pleases the whole multitude.
The Lord himself and all the
angels in Heaven have never
half succeeded in comforting
the human race, declares the
Oxford Ga.) Leader. There
is nothing on earth or any
where else that meets the ap-
iproval of all mankind. There
should certainly be no hell
when people are continually
damning one another on earth
Besides a good many people
keep a little hell at home.
An exchange has the follow
ing to say. which contains
more truth than poetry:
"The average newspaper
man finds out all the naughty
doings, no matter how secret
ly there are planned and kept.
If the papers would publish
! half the stuff they hear there
would be ten divorces where
there is now one. There
would be shotgun matinees,
lynching bees, Ratchet
parties, gore, Imprisonment,
desolation and misery. Many
people continually find fault
with the newspapers when,
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15
Iive and Learn.

Among the words given opt for
analysis recently by district school
teacher in Pennsylvania was 'bank-
note" The instructors establishment
may be imagined when one male pupil
turned in the following unique paper:
"Bank-note is a compound. primitive
word, composed Of bank and note
Bank Is q simple word. meaning the
side of stream: note to set down.
'Bank-note,' to set down by the side OF
a ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15
SCISSORETTES

as a matter of fact, they owe
their very standing in the
community to the editorial
waste basket.
The battle Minnehaha says:
Here is a motto to jot down
in your memorandum book
and commit it to memory as
you can follow it's teachings
every day: ''Early to bed
and early to rise; mind your
own business and tell no lies;
pay your debts and don't
neglect to ADVERTISE. -
They do say as how Editor
Jones of the Lowell Chronicle
is suffering with a bad case
govt. Great Scott! He must
be living high! Who ever
heard of a country editor with
usually but one meal a day,
being afflicted with govt?
Hoot, mum, that's not for
country editors; that's for
rich people, exclusively,
bankers and SIGH like.-Crow-
ley (Wyo.) Progress.
"O', Elise" says the first
sweet young thing, "Mr.
Winnen called on me last
night, and I must tell you OF
, my great happiness. He told
me that he loved me-"
marguerite" say Elise,
81 don't want to shatter any
ideals, but you mustn't be-
lieve a word he says. He is
the biggest fbber in town.
II was afraid of that, dear.
He told me, also, that he
thought you were a very love
ly and beautiful girl"
IT got this clock here a
month ago." says the custom
er, entering the shop with
the timepiece in his hands.
IT remember you," replies
the salesman.
"Well it ran down, and |
didn't notice it for a couple
of days, then I wound it up
and started it again, and now
I want to get it adjusted.
"Why, it is running now, .
observes the salesman, "and
| it is on time to the minute"
'It may seem so to you, u
ANSWERS the patron. "But
as 1 said, it was stopped fol
two days, consequently it is
now registering this hour for
last Wednesday,"
| Excusing himself to vino
up a sun dial. the salesman
sent in a hurry call for the
foolish wagon.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15
Her Commitments,

Dean Ramsay tells of an old lady
of Edinburgh who ordered her maid
to call upon the doctor every morn
ing and report the latest particulars
as to her mistress health, always
carefully adding her compliments.
At last one day the girl arrived
with "Miss SIS compliments, and
she deed last night at aicht o'clock. "
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15
A Straight Tip.

Johnnie Ito new visitor)-So you are
my grandma, are you? Grandmother
Yes, Johnnie I'm your grandma on
your fathers side. Johnnie-Well,
you're on the wrong side, you'll find
Out!-Philadelphia Bulletin.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15
A GambleF.

Tommy-Pop, how would you define
q gambler? Tommy's Pop-Well. my
son, q mans wife thinks he is gam
bier II he loses. and his friends think
he Is q gambler IL be wins.-Philadel-
phia Record.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15
Horrible.

"That was an awful disaster. There
was only one survivor. Isn't that ter
ribleY'
Fearful. What bore he'll be!'-
Cleveland Leader.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15
Disenchanted.

"Do you believe in the superhumanT p
II used to, but | don't any more"
"Why"
III married him. Chicago Record
Herald.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15

40 page trap book Illustrated,
picture of 46 wild animals in natur-
al colors, FUR AMIN AL CALEN-
OAR, gun and trap catalog, also
prices of hides and furs. All sent
postpaid for 10c stamps or silver.
FREE to those who ship to, or buy
OF US. Address Fur Dept, N. W.
Hide h Fur Co., Minneapolis, Mimi.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15

When yeu want anything in the
line OF joo printing The Times car
supply your wants in frst-clast
shape.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15

No man knows the weight Of anothe
mans burden.-Pliny.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15

A decision of considerable in
terest has been rendered this
week by the General Land Of
flee in which it is held that. in
order to enable heirs of a home
steader entryman to submit
Communication proof of his entry,
they must show both residence
on and cultivation of the land for
fourteen months by the entry
men or the heirs or partially by
both: and the same rule is held
to apply in a case where commu-
tation proof is submitted by the
widow of the entryman. Here
tofore it has been necessary only
for an entryman or an heir to
show either residence on or Gull
tivation of the land for fourteen
months. According to another
decision, if an entryman sells his
improvements on the land and
relinquishes his entry in con-
nection Herewith, he is not en-
titled to make a second home
stead under the act of Congress
of February s, 1908:
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15
FOR AGENTS A SUCCESS
THE Old WORLD
And ITS WAYS
WIN. JENNINGS BRYAN

576 Imperial Octave Papes. 251 superb En-
cravings from photographs taken by Bryan
Recsunts his trip around the world and his
visits to all nations. Greatest book Of travel
ever written. Nest successful beck of this
generation. Al, 00s called fer in months.
Write us for samdls report of first 100 agents
employed. The agents harvest.
OUTFIT FRET. Send fifty cents to cover
cost ct mailing and handling. Address.
THE THOMPSON PUB. TO-, st Louis Mo-
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-15

| Commercial Club
| E. Bergman Pres Nels M. Oscar Sec.
| Meats at Club rooms first Friday evening
| each month.