davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28
Snuff Spoons.

All the world is familiar with snuff
boxes, but snuff spoons are pretty lit
tie refinements of which this genera
tion has hardly heard. Very probably
they came into use about two years
after Sir George Rockies expedition to
vigo bay in 1902. when he captured
half ton of tobacco and snuff from
the Spanish galleons. and SNUFF thus
became common article In England.
One of the characters in comedy
published at oxford In 1704, entitled
IAN Act at Oxford" by Thomas
Baker, says, "But carry sweet snuff
for the ladies'" TO which Arabella re-
plies: "A spoon too. That's very gal
liant. for TO see some people run their
fat fingers into a box is as nauseous
as eating without n fork"
In the forties and ffties Of the last
century SNUFF spoons were still in use
on the Scottish border. They were OF
bone and of size to 20 into the snuff-
box. People fed their noses, II was
said, as naturally as they carried soup
to their mouths. As late as 1877 a
farmer at Norham-on-Tweed was seen
using one.-London Saturday Review.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28
ploksn. and pist.I

Dickens Ii the novelist OF the meal
No other writer, pile he up never such
lists of delicacies at for Lucullus. has
the gusto In describing humble feasts
which gives the very reader an appe-
tlte. Thackeray, for all his Ballad Of
Bouillabaise," never touched the hem
Of his garments In the recording of
meals. Who that has read them can
ever forget, for instance, Mrs. Camps
directions to the chambermaid for her
nocturnal reflection. or the tea which
awaited Joe Willett and Dolly on their
return to the locksmlth's dwelling on
the occasion Of Miss Migg's final rout,
or the unassuming meals recorded In
David Copper6eld." or the more pre-
tentlous feasts In "Pickwick," not for
getting the leg O. mutton 'swarry" to
which Mr.. Weller was invited by the
elite Of Bath footmen? And has not
every reader of Martin Chuzzlewit"
allowed a tender smile to curl his lips
over the evolution of that incompara-
BILE pudding in the preparation and
consumption of which such damage
was done to John Westlock's affec-
tions2 So go and read-and acquire
your appetite.-London Chronicle.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28
A eREWsoME REQUEST.
Extraordinary Leescy by the Father
Of Lord Audey.

~ -~'S 'sss'~Js
Probably the most grewsome be-
quest ever named II will was that
made by Philip Thicknesse, dissipat-
ed Englishman, who died In 1892. Some
years before his death he had quarrel
ed bitterly with hls son. Lord Audley.
and to spite him mad placed on the
outside Of the family mansion board
bearing this inscription in large black
letters:
"Boots and shoea mended. carpets
beat, etc. etc, by p. Thlcknesse, ia
ther of Lord Audley."
Finding he was about to die, he sent
for his lawyer and drew up a VIII con-
tanning the following extraordinary
clause: Il leave my right hand, to be
cut Off after my death, to my son, Lord
Audley. I desire 1t inay be sent to him
in hopes that such sight may remind
him Of his duty to God after having
so long abandoned the duty he owed
to father who once so affectionately
loved him."
The dead mans wishes were scrupu-
lously carried out, and his severed
hand. inclosed In a hermetically sealed
leaden casket. waf forwarded to his
son. There Is no record as to how
Lord Audley received his unwelcome
legacy or how he disposed of it.-New
York Press. -sgbr ~
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28
Case of Too Much Ham,

One morning not long ago there
tripped up to butcher stall in a Bal
timorr market dainty little thing out
for her first marketing.
MY husband bought couple Of nice
hams from you not long ago." she an
nounced.
"Yes'm." said the smiling butcher; ~
remember well. Fine hams, weren't
theyT
''rhey were delicious" said the
young wife. "Have you any more like
them"
Lots" responded the butcher, in
dicatlng a row Of hams In the rear Of
the stall.
The young thing surveyed the hams
thoughtfully. Are you sure" she
finally asked. that they're from the
same pig as that from which my hus-
band bougbt"
"Yes'm." answered the butcher with.
out so much as quiver Of an eyelid.
Then you may send me three more
Of them" she said.-Pittsburg Post.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28
A Tramp of Resource.

Much experience Of thirsty tramps
had caused the author of IAN English
Holiday" ]. J. Hissey, to foreknow
almost exactly what they would say
to him. One day. when sending his
motorcar slowly along u shady Eng
lish road. he met one Of this guild, who
accosted him with the preliminary
touch of his cap. Mr.. Hissey antici-
pated him by exclaiming:
II be mortal thirsty. Have you, good
sir. the price Of glass of ale about
you? I've driven nearly fifty miles to-
day, and since the morning not bite
of food has passed my lips"
The look of astonishment that tramp
gave me was delight to observe. But
this tramp was a man of ready re-
source. and. seeing l was hopeless
case. he rose to the occasion and
promptly exclaimed, with what dig
nifty he could command and with a
comlcally serious expression:
''If there were n policeman In sight
would give you In charge for begging
that / wouldv'
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28

Just why there rust be lace curtains
even where there ~ no plano or rubber
plant or gilt chat has never been ex-
planned to the ortire satisfaction Of
man. He only krcws that there must
and let's II go at That 1t often seems
to him that II he could have his way,
which Is out Of the question, of course,
there wouldn't ba lace curtains, at
least above the cellar floor. They are
In the way when windows are to be
lowered or raised; they are apt to blow
into the gas and ;,1rn down the house,
and alarm is Constantly sounded for
fear the man WI soil or tear them.
They do not se-re to keep out the
tight when there 4, too much of It, and
the dog can't toPSt himself in the sun
without getting r,ngled In them.
stu, there arc lace curtains every.
where. and that IS all there is to IT.
Providence TribuNe =
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28
Ahoue and Relow Proof.

Before the means of determining the
true quantity Of alcohol in spirits were
known dealers employed very rude
method TO form notion of the
strength" A given quantity of the
spirit was poured upon gunpowder In
a dish and set on FIRE. IL the gunpow-
der continued dry enough It took fire
and exploded. but II 1t had been damp
ened by the water in the spirits the
fame of the alcohol went out without
setting the powder on fire. This was
called the proof" Spirits which kin
died gunpowder were said to be "above
proof" those that did not set fire to 1t
were said to be "below proof" but this
did not fix the strength. Clark in his
hydrometer, which was invented about
the year 1880, fixed the strength Of
proof spirits on the stem, at the spe-
cific gravity of 900. at the temperature
of GO degrees. This is the strength at
which proof spirit Is fixed by act Of
parliament, and at this strength 1t is
no more than a mixture of forty-nine
pounds of pure alcohol with fifty-one
pounds of pure vater.-London Stand.
ard.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28
WOMEN WHO GET LAND

Mary d. McNickle of Chicago, may
be considered one of the lu;kiest
young women in the country, having
drawn No. In Uncle Sans big lot
tory for land in the Spokane Indian
reservation There were more than
100000 applicants for the registration
on this reserve where only 40 quarter
sections, or 6,400 acres OF land, will be
opened TO settlement and entry next
April. Miss McNickle's good luck is
due entirely to the work Of the Spo-
Kane chamber of commerce, which
deposited fund with Postmaster
Harrison to guarantee the delivery
OF all unstamped letters addressed
20 James w, Witten, superintendent
OF the opening, Occur d'Alene Idaho
Her letter was one of those on
which the postage was paid by the
organization. she having mailed it
without attaching a two-cent stamp.
Miss McNickle will have the second
choice OF the land opened on the re-
servation. Nora N. Gilbert OF Seattle
drew, No. II, Mary C. Hanning OF
Chicago drew No. 80 and No. 80 went
10 Emma Schaffner of Evansville, Ind
These are the olny four women to
secure numbers OF the first 40 names
selected. The clans are worth $4,000
each and are adapted 10 agriculture.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28
No Wonder She swooned.

Mrs. Lysander John Appleton's
mother instinct OWNED last evening
that her son, Chauncey Devere Apple
ton, was in trouble, so she took him
to her room and said, "My son, tell
your mother what troubles you"
1t turned out that the young man
was having a hard time. The girl he
has been "going with" had refused
him. Mrs. Appleton was indignant.
She thinks II would be an honor for
any girl In the west to marry an APP
pleton. "Why did she refuse your
she asked her son, with fine scorn.
"Well," the boy replied between his
sobs, 'she objects TO our family She
says pas loafer that you're too fat
and that everybody laughs at Dayse
Mayme because she's a fool and talks
about nothing but the greatness Of her
family" Chauncey threw water In his
mothers face, but at o'clock this
afternoon she was still In swoon,
with four doctors working on her,
Atchison Globe.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28

"Don't you ever put the baby to
bed?" an astonished visitor at last ex-
claimed after the better part Of the
evening had worn away and the child
of six months was still sitting up, GOO
ing cheerfully. The young mother
laughed. "Oh. yes" she explained
with serene wisdom. I'VE put baby
to bed at IL p. M, and he sleeps until
IL m. Then he has his bath and goes
out I'm the gocart and sleeps most Of
the afternoon. Haven't you known
many mothers who simply sacrifice all
their time to the babies while they are
little? made up my mind before
baby came that he would have to con-
form to our ways, not we conform to
his. He has just as much sleep as ba-
bies who go to bed ut and sleep until
@, and he doesn't interfere with our
evenings. We can take him with us
when we go out or we can go feeling
that he Will be perfectly happy while
we are away, because he won't cry for
mother until midnight We're regular
night hawks, and so is baby"
The visitor was speechless.
Don't you think it's good sys-
tenn" the mother continued I'VE
think it is splendid" ~
81 think" the visitor answered In
noncommitta tone that 1t would take
New York mother to invent the sys-
tem."-New York Press.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28
The Caspian Sea.

The Caspian sea is, as Herodotus
said 1900 years ago. "a sea by itself.
having no connection with any other"
Every schoolboy knows that now. but
It Is remarkable to find Herodotus
saying so, because centuries after his
time such authorities as Strabo and
Pliny believed that 1t was connected
with the northern ocean by long and
narrow gulf. Geography seems TO
have had a setback In the interval
through false information received at
the time Of Alexander's conquests.
Herodotus says that the Caspian's
length was fifteen days voyage with
a rowboat. its breadth eight days.
Since the actual figures are $50 miles
and 400, this shows that rowboat Of
the time did fifty miles a day.-London
Graphic.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28

The wisest and most experienced can
never tell what lion will do. Lion
hunting, to my mind, has charm all
Its own. Nothing compares with 1t,
and no driving of ravines or swamps
or catching the great cat at his kill is
comparable to the Joy and steady ex-
element Of tracking him down. He
chooses the ground. You follow him
into It You pit yourself against him.
Crouching fat against the yellow
earth. perhaps covered only by few
inches Of grass, he Is almost unbeliev-
ably hard to see. His rush and spring
from a few yards distance Is the fast.
est thing in the world. No animal can
escape 1t, much less clumsy. slow foot.
ed man. He has a chance to pay or on
man. the universal lord and master,
the wrongs Of the animal world, and
here in East Africa the lions revenge
full toll taken on human life and limb
mounts hlgh.-Rev. DIR. w. s. Rains
ford In Worlds Work.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28


In his "Mirror of Stones" Camillus
keonardus calls jet BLACK AMBER, and
Itates that 1t possesses the peculiar
property Of attracting to 1t when rub
bed light substances Of all kinds. He
also tells us that the thin smoke pro-
duced by this friction Of rubbing was
used by the ancient Britains for driv-
ing away devils and dissolving spells.
"Jet," says Dr. Young, appears to
be wood in a high state of bituminiza-
ton" And certainly jet often appears
with traces Of llgneous structure. At
the same time there are specimens of
bones which seemingly have been grad
ually impregnated with and at last
wholly replaced by this substance.
Among the Jet rock there is found a
liquid hydrocarbon somewhat resem-
bling petroleum oil, which occurs I'm
the cavities of ammonites, ETC., and is
also sometimes found In nodules, the
presence Of which is generally sup
posed to point to rich vein Of jet.
From these and other observations It
would appear that jet existed as a
liquid substance and that this sub
stance gradually permeated between
the laminatioDs of the shales. etc. Gov
ering over or In some cases entirely re-
placing any woody matter which 1t
met with.-New York Post.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28
PROPER DISCRIMINATION

Judge Samuel Black of Columbus
scored James Schroeder, OF that city,
for permitting his daughter, Amelia,
to attend bar. ut the matter seems to
Us illogical. II tending bar is q proper
business we don't see why the chill
dren OF the family may not work at
1t. There is no objection to farmers
daughter milking the cows and skim
ming cream and churning butter or
doing other light farmers work and
why should there be objection to a
saloonkeeper's daughter doing the
light work about the saloon? We
don't see the line of legitimate dis
elimination. II 1t be said that the lat
ter is too much inclined to evil for
the well-being OF the daughter then
would lot the same objection lie to
K with regard to her father? What is
needed II occurs to us, Is not for
Judge Black to require that the
daughter of James Schroeder be ex-
cluded from her fathers place OF busi-
ness because of its Immoral tenden-
cies but rather TO remove the evil
inclinations and associates from that
calling.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28
Shank's Mare,

81 haven't got limousine or any
aeroplane; haven't got coach an
six. not cen a special train; 1 haven't
got bicycle nor yet boss an team.
git along all right, by jlnks, 'thout
gaserline or steam. l travel jest by
shank's mare an never hev no fear
but what I'll reach my stoppin' place
the same day In the year. No artificial
rigs for me, no busted tires or bones.
no landin' all up in a heap upon the
highway stones. ! may be slow a-get-
tin round an cause the world to
stare. but will git there by an by
all right side up with ."-Boston
Herald.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28

neighborhood affirms that In three
months after they were opened, work.
ing men in the vicinity who owned
their homes began to put in bath
rooms for themselves, though they
never before had done so.
THE fact that some men abuse and
neglect opportunities to live cleanly
and decent lives has nothing to do
with the case. The Pittsburg employer
is under a moral and social ALLEGATION
TO furnish the opportunity-and all
experience shows that the great per-
cent will improve It to the full.
"Pittsburg should do as Boston is
doing-create vision of what she
might be-set herself q period in
which to realize 1t and then turn all
her forces to making her dream come
tue. Pittsburg's enemies are not
those who point out what is intoler-
able and unnecessary in her borders
they are those who fly into rage
because attention is called to her de-
Element.
Let once the sense OF social JUS
tice be aroused in her--the determine
tion that there shall exist in Pitts
burg healthy and comfortable con-
ditlons for all her citizens, and the
first step will be taken toward cur
ing the tariff injustices which have
helped to cause the unequal distribu-
ton of her wealth. For when men
once begin to recognize frankly the
injustice of conditions which they
have been brought up to and accepted
unthinkingly, their ability to recog-
nize other varities of wrong rapidly
develops. Right and wrong do not
live happily aogether. and firmly be-
lieve that when the day comes that
the Pittsburg millionaire recognizes
his obligations not to exploit even a
despised foreigner, he will see also
that he has an obligation not to ex-
plot the ultimate consumer"
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28
BEARS GENERALLY JOLLY.
But Sometimes One Comes Along With
tf q Settled Crouch.

. Settled Crouch.
''1sarely are bears born III tempered.
They may show some resentment at
the time of their capture when but
two months old, but this feeling soon
disappears, leaving jolly rogue ever
willing to box and wrestle. once
knew cub that was regular ter
ror," says a writer In Golfers, 'and
he never reformed. He would attack
anything regardless Of Its size or
strength.
"At the age Of three months he
would charge at me, snorting. shifting
and striking with his tiny paws, and
when did not protect myself he
seized my trousers leg between his
teeth and shook It violently.
"At first l thought that he had been
abused by his former owner and that
by kind treatment he would soon out
grow his temper; but, no. he just had II
In him, and he became more and more
dangerous as time sped by.
"Finally he grew large enough to be
put In with the mature bears without
danger of his squeezing between the
bars and escaping, and TO the surprise
Of every one he Immediately took
charge Of the den. Old bears twenty
times his size, possibly from some
sense Of honor, II animals have honor,
submitted to cuffs and slaps In the
face and actually allowed him to
snatch food from their mouths with
out resenting the insult"
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28
Tho Rubber Tree.

The 'india rubber" plant-Ficus
elasticus-is a great tree in the tropical
countries In which It flourishes, often
reaching as much as hundred feet
high. Imposing. indeed, It looks In
such conditions, with vast leafy
crown extending over forty or fifty
feet outward on each side Of the mas.
sive trunk and with immense buttress.
Ing roots twisting and winding along
above the ground In such way as to
lead the natives Of India and Ceylon to
call 1t the 'snake tree" Sometimes
these roots grow up into the trees and
make the tree look like the banyan, to
which. 1t may be mentioned. 1t is bo-
tanicaliy related.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28
A CLEVER SWINDLE.
Ingenious Scheme Worked by a Pa.
risian vagabond.

"SeHious ocneno WoTNeu py Th-
risian vasabond.
The manager of a fashionable Paris
restaurant fell into a neat trap not
very long ago. A man named Daval,
who had only recently been released
from prison. called cab and told the
driver that he was the Count d'Abbe-
vile and that he had bet friend a
large sum of money that. dressed In a
tramp's rags. he would eat u dinner at
one of the most exclusive hotels. II
the cabman would arrange the matter
for him with the manager of the hotel
the count would pay him handsomely.
The cabman drove up to luxurious
restaurant, took the manager aside
and whispered the information that
his disreputable looking fare was real
ly count In disguise and then related
the story of the bet. The manager fell
into the trap. and the ex-prisoner was
served with an excellent dinner with
many wines.
The meal over, the man declared
that he was no count and that he had
no money. The manager laughed heart
lily at the splendid way his guest play
ed his part, but by and by the truth
dawned on him. A policeman was
called In, and the ingenious swindler
was led away, imperturbably smoking
a FIVE franc cigar.-New York Sun.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28
THEE CUCKOO.
Curious superstltions That Are Con.
nected With the Bird.

Curious superstitions That Are Con.
nsoted With the Bird.
There is a popular belief that what
ever one Is doing when first one hears
the cuckoo that viii be what one will
most frequently do during the year.
In many parts of Scotland and In the
northern counties Of England people
turn their money In their pockets on
hearing the first call of the cuckoo, as
this, they say, insures lucky year. In
the counties bordering in Wales not
only do they do this. but they also
have wish at the same time, this
wish being kept secret, of course. To
have gold coin In ones pocket when
the cuckoo's call Is frst heard insures
good luck for the rest of the year.
The German peasants declare that aft
er St. Johns day the bird changes into
a sparrow hawk.
The Danes have curious legend re-
garding this bird. When the village
girls hear It's first call they kiss their
hands and repeat, Cuckoo, cuckoo.
when shall be marriedY AS many
times as the bird calls cuckoo" In an
swer, so many years will the maiden
have to wait. The old folk, bent and
bowed with rheumatism and age, ask
instead, Cuckoo. cuckoo, when shall
! be released from this worlds caresT'
and the answer comes in the same
way. So occupied is the poor bird in
answering these questions, say the
Danes, that she NEVER has time to build
her nest, so Is for'ed to lay her eggs
In the nest of another bird.-Planet.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28
Retween Two Fires.

She was desperately gone on them
both. and she couldn't think which
one to choose. 1t was rather perplex.
ing, no doubt, for one she was bound
to refuse.
She gazed at them both in despair
quite puzzled to know what to do. As
soon as she thought about one she
cared for the other one too.
They still remained under her gaze
little recking the trouble they brought
1t really was hard to decide. They
were both so delightful, she thought.
She couldn't say which one she'd
have; her efforts fell hopelessly fat.
It's really exceedingly hard select
ing q new autumn hat.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-28

Housekeeper-You promised that II
I'd give you good meal and suit
Of old clothes you'd tell me how to
keep the premises free from tramps.
Trnmp-Yes, mum. an I'm man
Of me word, mum. an I'll keep me
promise, although that meal wasn't no
great shakes an this suit of clothes
amt much OF fit. But I'll tell ye
"Weil, what course am to pursueT'
"Never give 'em anything. mum.
Good day. num-"