davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
CAUTION IN THE MINT.
They Almost Strain the Air to Save
Particles Of Gold.

They Almost Strain the Air to Save
Particles Of Gold.
II has been aptly said that no miser
guards his treasure more religiously
than Uncle Sam watches over the pre-
cious metals that pass through his
mints. Then, too. the precautions
against waste are almost lnnumerable.
Every evening in each OF the mints
OF the United States the floors OF the
melting rooms are swept cleaner than
a New England housewives kitchen.
The dust is carefully put aside. and
about once In two months the SCOT
scraped from every due is transferred
to the same precious dust heap. This
is then burned. and from its ashes the
government derives no inconsiderable
Income. The earthenware crucibles
used in melting are employed no more
than three times. They are crushed
beneath heavy rollers. and In their
porous sides are found fakes of the
precious metal.
In the melting room when the cast
ers raise their ladies' from the melting
pots a shower of sparks fly from the
molten surface of the metal. For the
most part they are bits OF lncandes-
cent carbon. but clingng to the car
bon is often a minute particle of met
al. Lest such particles should escape,
the ashes and clinkers below the fur
naces are gathered up at night. This
debris Is ground into powder by means
of steam crusher and then is sold to
a smelter. like ordinary ore, at price
warranted by the assayer.
The ladies' that stir the precious met
al, the big iron rods. the strainers and
the clippers, all are tested IN most
curious fashion. After considerable
use they become covered with a thin
layer of oxidized silver, closely resem-
bling a brown rust. The implements
are then laid in baths of solution of
sulphuric acid. which eats away the
iron aud steel and leaves the silver
untouched.
Gradually the ladle, or whatever the
implement is. will disappear, and in
its. place remains hollow silver coun-
terpart of the original. delicate as
spung glass. These fragile casts repro
duce the ladle with perfect accuracy
in all its details. although their sur
faces are perforated with innumera BILE
little holes. Scarcely have they been
nodded. however, before they are cast
into a crucible to become In time dol
lars, quarters and dimes.
In one corner of the melting room
there is a large tank into which new
ly cast silver bars are dropped and
left to cool. Infnitesimal fakes of sill
yer scale off and rise to the surface of
the water, which acquires the metallic
luster of stagnant pool. Here Is
silver that must not be lost so be-
meath the pipe through which the tank
is emptied is banked thick layer
OF mud. AS the water filters through
it the mud retains the precious resi-
dunn. Four times a year this mud
is removed and each experiment dis
closes the fact that some $50 has been
saved.-Baltimore American.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
Following Instructions.

The old broker returned and fount
his new office boy gazing absently
over the roof tops. To his horror AMI
Indignation he found that his cost!
Swiss clock was missing from its &C
customed place In the corner.
Boy" he demanded in thunderou
tones, where is my clockT
81 don't know, SIR" was the caln
and unruffled response.
Didn't tell you not to go out unit
1 returned?"
~ didn't, SIR"
where have you been"
fright here, SIR"
what? You mean to tell me tina
you have been sitting right there ant
allowed some one to come in ant
steal the clock? Well. of all tx
numskulls l ever met you are the
limit. What excuse have you for suct
earelessness?" t.
"a good one. sir. When first came
here you told me you didn't want q
boy who would sit around and watct
the clock, so l haven't given it a
glance, sir."-Chicago News.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
GUN COTTON.
A Peculiar Characteristic Of This Ter
rihlo Explosive.

n PECULIAR W
rihlO Explosive.
Many and odd are the materials en-
terlng into the manufacture OF modern
explosives, but perhaps the most inter
esting OF all these elements OF destruc-
ton as well as the simplest is gun cot
ton. The gun cotton manufacturing In
austry Is large, as enormous quantities
are used In the charging OF torpedoes
and for similar purposes.
The base OF gun cotton is pure raw
cotton or even cotton waste, such as In
used to clean mac hinery. This Is steep
ed In a solution of one part of nitric
and three parts OF sulphuric acid. IL Is
the former ingredient that renders the
mass explosive, the sulphuric acid be-
ing used merely to absorb all moisture.
thus permitting the nitric acid to COM
bine more readily with the cellulose OF
the cotton.
After being soaked for several hours
In the solution described the cotton
is passed between rollers to expel
all nonabsorbed acid. process carried
to completion by washing the cottoE In
clear water. This washing process Is q
long one, requiring machinery which
reduces the cotton to mass resem-
bling paper pulp. Should any nonab-
sorbed acid be allowed to remain 1t
would decompose the cotton.
If the explosive Is to be used after
the manner of powder II Is still fur
Their pulverized and then thoroughly
dried. but If intended for torpedoes 1t
is pressed into cakes of various shapes
and sizes-disk shaped. cylindrical. Hat
squares and cubes. When not COM
pressed gun cotton is very light. as
light as ordinary batting.
peculiar characteristic OF this ter
rible explosive is that brick Of 1t
when wet may be placed on bed OF
hot Goals. and as the moisture dries out
the cotton will fake and burn quietly
If dry originally, however, the gun cot
ton will explode with terrible force ut
about 800 degrees of heat.
In general 1t is the custom TO ex-
plode gun cotton by detonation or an
intense shock instead of by heat In a
torpedo the explosive charge Is wet,
this wet cotton being exploded by
means of dry cotton In tube. this
having been fired by cap of fulmi-
nate of mercury, the cap itself having
been fred by the impact of the torpedo
against the target. -Harper's Weekly
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
His Text.

The three-year-old son Of Metho
dist minister was with his mother at
a gathering of ladies'. At the proper
time he was given a cooky. He ate II
in short order and asked for another.
The hostess said:
"I'll give you another IL you will
sing for u.s."
"Can't sing" was his reply. but 1
know something l can say"
"That will do all right" the lady an
swered, expecting to hear Twinkle.
twinkle. little star" or some other
nursery classic.
But the little fellow drew himself up
In real Sunday school fashion and said
his piece:
God loveth cheerful giver."
The lady gave him the .cooky. and
the whole company seemed to be very
cheerful about it.-Harper's Magazine.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12

Champ Clark was showing constit'
uent about the capitol one day when
he invited attention to a solemn faced
individual just entering committee
room.
"See that chap?" asked Clark. He
reads every one of the speeches deliv-
cred In the house."
"Whatp' gasped the constituent.
Fact" said Clark. READS every
word Of 'em toov'
"Who Is hep" queried the visitor. re-
garding the phenomenon closely.
"a proofreader at the government
printing Office" explained Champ
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
A Water TELESCOPE.

Norwegian fishermen use water
telescope to ascertain the position OF
the herring shoals. This Is the way
to make the water telescope:
Procure a tube made of tin and fun
mel shaped about three and half feet
long and ten inches In diameter at the
largest end. 1t should be wide enough
at the top to take in the Observers
eyes, and the inside should be painted
black. At the bottom. or wide end. a
clear, thick piece of glass must be in
serted, with a little lead in the form
Of a ring to weight the tube. When
the instrument is immersed in clear
water 1t Is astonishing how many
fathoms down the observer can see.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12

II over Philomena's shoulder. Here
exactly what is wanted for your trS
opera costumeT
In spite of herself Phil gave ltd
delighted cry, the silvery satin groun
was so rich and lustrous, the appI
bloom strewn over 1t 30 perfect in lIl
and color. She was sorry when ID
peddler said respectfully;
"That, sir. is an ordered bit, 30 nd
for sale"
sect another piece for your ordeI
I'm bound to have this one" said Grj
ham good humoredly.
The peddler shook his head. "Thrt
is not another piece like It," he sail
This was specially woven for a hapI
day gown"
"who is to wear it2" Philomed
asked softly, sitting a sigh. SomehoI
she found herself trembling, all I'D
courage oozing away. She wished
she had never wished before that Sd
had somebody of her very own to lea
on. Her mother had died when 81
was born. Her father had gone await
disappeared, leaving her only a cloud
ed name for heritage. She had nevS
known until the trouble came; thd
Uncle John had spoken harsh trutl
1t was that as much as love for q
two dear old ladies which kept I'D
steadfast to the thought of going int
the world and winning its applause.
She had never been curious or env
Gus, but somehow there Swelled In ht
a sense of passionate injury agains
the unknown who was to wear thi
happy day gown. ordered no doubt b
a fathers loving pride. She crushe
the rich fabric between her finger
and fixed long look upon the pee
dler's face.
"a girl is to wear it-that is, II sh
chooses" the peddler said. moving
step nearer.
Then she saw that he was NOR
travel worn and weary than age
Dimly. uncertainty, she saw, too,
likeness that drew her electrically I
her feet. Through the open hall doc
her fathers portrait showed in til
bloom and strength Of young mar
hood. She glanced from 1t to the pee
dler and back again, then stood whit
as death, facing him, too shaken {
speak. His eyes followed hers an
grew misty as he cried:
"SistersI Daughter! So have reall
kept my place! Philomena, my bah,
the happy day gown was brought fo
YOU"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12

bed. It's an awful thing to go to bed
with good night look at General
Kitchener, William Muldoon, the
Duchess of Marlborough and Benve-
nuto/ Cellini.
This story doesn't really get any
where at all. The rest of 1t comes
later some time when Piggy asks Dull
Gle again to dine with him, and she Is
feeling lonelier than usual. and Gen
eral Kitchener happens to be looking
the other way, and then
AS I said before, l dreamed that I
was standing near a crowd of pros
porous looking angels and policeman
took me by the wing and asked IL I
belonged with them.
"Who are they?" I asked.
why" said he, "they are the men
who hired working girls and paid 'em
five or six dollars a week to live on.
Are you one of the bunch?'
mot on your Immortality" said I.
''Pm only the fellow that set fire to
an orphan asylum and murdered a
blind man for his pennies"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12

somebody knocked at the door. Duh
Gle opened It. The landlady stood
there with a spurious smile, shining
for cooking by stolen gas.
"a gentleman's downstairs to see
you," she said. name is Mr.. Wig
gins"
BY such epithet was Piggy known
to unfortunate ones who had to take
him seriously.
Dulcie turned to the dresser to get
her handkerchief. and then she stop
ped still and bit her underllp hard
While looking In her mirror she had
seen fairyland and herself a princess
just awakening from long slumber.
She had forgotten one that was watch
ing her with sad, beautiful. stern eyes
the only one there was to approve or
condemn what she did.
Straight and slender and tall, with
look of sorrowful reproach on his
handsome, melancholy face, General
Kitchener fixed his wonderful eyes on
her out of his gilt photograph frame
on the dresser.
Dulcie turned like an automatic doll
to the landlady.
"Tell him can't CO." she said duly.
'"Tell him I'm sick or something. Tell
him I'm not going out"
After the door was closed and locked
Dulcie fell upon her bed. crushing her
black tip, and cried for ten minutes.
General Kitchener was her only friend.
He was Dulcie's ideal of a gallant
knight. He looked as IL he might have
secret sorrow, and his wonderful
mustache was dream, and she was
little afraid of that stern yet tender
look In his eyes. She used to have
little fancies that he would call at the
house some time and ask for her with
his sword clanking against his high
boots.
Once when boy was rattling piece
of chain against a lamppost she had
opened the window and looked out.
But there was no use. She knew that
General Kitchener was away over in
Japan leading his army against the
savage Turks and he would never
step out of his gilt frame for her.
Yet one look from him had van
pushed Piggy that night-yes, for that
night. .N
When her cry was over Dulcie got
up and took off her best dress and
put on her old blue kimono. She want
ed no dinner. She sang two verses OF
Sammy" Then she became Intense
ly interested In a little red speck on
the side of her nose. And after that
was attended to she drew up a chair
to the rickety table and told her for
tune with an old deck of cards.
"The horrid, impudent thing!" she
said aloud. And l never gave him a
word or look to make him think
itr'
At 0 o'clock Dulcie took tin box
of crackers and a little pot of rasp-
berry jam out of her trunk and had a
feast.
She offered General Kitchener some
jam on a cracker, but he looked at her
only as the sphinx would have looked
at a butterfy-if there are butterflies
in the desert.
Don't eat 1t If you don't want to-"
said Dulcie. "And don't put on so
many airs and scold so with your
eyes. I wonder IL you'd be so superior
and snippy If you had to live on SO
a weekT
1t was not good sign for Dulcie
to be rude to General Kitchener. And
then she turned Benvenuto Cellini face
downward with a severe gesture. But
that was not inexcusable, for she had
always thought he was Henry Will,
and she did not approve of him.
At half past 8 Dulcie took last
look at the pictures on the dresser,
turned out the light and skipped to
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
corr,,ntael LIIa stxIa.

'"The late Richard Watson Glider"
said a New York poet. always op.
posed the reading Of light literature.
A poet. he said, could not read such
literature without corrupting his liter.
airy style.
"He once told me that the poet in
this respect was like Browns parrot.
Brown bought parrot for $40
from a pet stock dealer and a week or
two later returned to the shop and in-
sisted that the bird be taken back.
whats the matter with itT the
dealer asked.
"'W-w-why,' said Brown, che duru-
ed c-c.crtfthr ststutters.'"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
AN UNFINISHED STORY
A Queer Dream melted by
Thoughts of Mans Inhumanity.
BY o. HENRY.

copyright. 1906. by Mcclure. Phillips &
Col
We no longer groan and heap ashes
upon our heads when the flames of
Tophet are mentioned, for even the
preachers have begun to tell us that
God is radium or ether or some scien~
tifc compound and that the worst we
wicked ones may expect is chemical
reaction. This is pleasing hypoth-
esis, but there fingers yet some Of the
old, goodly terror of orthodoxy.
There are but two subjects upon
which one may discourse with free
Imagination and without the POSSIBLE
ity of being controverted. You may
talk of your dreams, and you may tell
what you heard a parrot say. Both
Morpheus and the bird are incom-
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
AM Easx Numismatist.

Mrs. Goodart-You seem to have
some education. Perhaps you were
once a professional man. Howard
Hasher-Lady. I'm numismatist by
profession. Mrs. Goodart-A numisma-
fist? Howard Hasher-Yes. lady; a
collector of rare coins. Any old coin Is
rare to me.-Philadelphia Press.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12

"Givin' some men advice" said On
Gle Eben. reminds me Of tryin' to dis
cipline my OIL mule wifi fence rail.
II tires out de giver and hurts de re-
ceiver, but don't make no real DIFF
funce."- Washington Star.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12

SHE SAID.
petent witnesses, and your listener
dare not attack your recital. The
baseless fabric of vision, then, shall
furnish my theme, chosen with apollo
gies and regrets instead of the more
limited field of pretty Pollys small
talk.
had a dream that was so far re-
moved from the higher criticism that
it had to do with the ancient, respect
able and lamented bar of judgment
theory
Gabriel had played his trump, and
those Of us who could not follow suit
were arraigned for examination.
noticed at one side a gathering of pro.
fessional bondsmen in solemn black
and collars that buttoned behind, but
It seemed there was some trouble
about their real estate titles, and they
did not appear to be getting any of us
out.
A fly cop-an angel policeman-fiew
over to me and took me by the left
wing. Near at hand was a group of
very prosperous looking spirits ar
raigned for judgment.
"Do you belong with that bunch p
the policeman asked.
"Who are theyT was my answer.
why" said he, "they are
But this irrelevant stuff is taking
up space that the story should occupy.
Dulcie worked In department store.
She sold Hamburg edging, or stuffed
peppers, or automobiles, or other little
trinkets such as they keep in depart
ment stores. OF what she earned
Dulcie received SO per week. The re-
mainder was credited to her and deb
tied to somebody else's account In the
ledger kept by G.
oh, primal energy, you say, rever-
end doctor. Well, then, in the ledger
of primal energy.
During her first year In the store
Dulcie was paid SIS per week. 1t would
be instructive to know how she lived
on that amount. Don't care? Very
well. Probably you are interested in
larger amounts. Six dollars is larger
amount. 1 will tell you how she lived
on SO per week.
One afternoon at 9, when Dulcie was
sticking her hatpin within an eighth
Of an inch of her medulla oblongata.
she said to her chum, Sadie - the
girl that waits on you with her left
side:
Say, Sadie, made a date for din
ner this evening with Piggy
you never didT' exclaimed Sadie
admiringly. "Well, amt you the lucky
one? Piggy's an awful swell, and he
always takes girl to swell places.
He took Blanche up to the Hoffman
House one evening, where they have
swell music and you see a lot of
swells. r. You'll have a swell time.
Dulcie hf1rfied homeward. Her eyes
were shining, and her cheeks showed
the delicate pink of llfe's-real life's-
approaching dawn. 1t was Friday.
and she had 90 cents left OF her last
weeks wages
The streets were filed with the rush
hour foods of people. The electric
lights of Broadway were glowing, call
Ing moths from miles. from leagues.
from hundreds of leagues cut of dark.
ness around to come in and attend the
smuggling school. Men in accurate
clothes, with faces like those carved
on cherry stones by the old salts In
sailors homes, turned and stared at
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12

John e. Foley, of Bethel, bough
a horse from friend in WaitsfielC
and made payment by check o.
the National White River BAN
which proves to be worthless. TIL
friend went TO Bethel last Friday tt
look mp the matter and found the
Foley had left town after selling the
horse.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
waIkino In His sIeep

docs your husband ever walk In his
sleep2" asked the preacher.
"Oh, l guess So" replied the mans
wife lnnocently. "He got up and
walked out of church Sunday while
you were preaching. "-Yonkers States
man.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
PUTTING Him Wise.

"I'd like to make you my wife,"
said the practical young man. "but
they tell me you cant keep house."
Don't you believe all they tell YOU"
rejoined the girl In the case. "You get
the house and put It In my name. and
I'll prove to You that can keep it,
Exchange.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
Sometimes rhsrs ISM.

Flubbe-I'm going into the manu-
facture of something there ought to
be money In.
Dubbe-What are you going to man
ufacture?
Flubbe-Pocketbook and purses
London Telegraph.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
Quota Complete.

Stranger-What are you erecting I
statue here for? Your town is full o.
statues now.
Citizen-This place Is famous for be
ing the only place In town that isr
famous for something. -Detroit Free
Press.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
The Sybaritos.

The Sybarites were the inhabitants
Of the ancient city of Sybaris. in
southern Italy. founded 720 r. g. They
were so greatly addicted to voluptu-
BUSINESS and self indulgence that their
name became byword among the
peoples of antiquity. The word ''sy ba-
rite" is used at the present day to de-
note a person devoted to luxury and
Dlea sure
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12

The engineers department of the
Rutland railroad is making plans for
additions to the present repair shops,
which will cost, with their equip
ment, S6O,O0O.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
Why He COULDN'T Work.

The Lady-My 'usband. sir. as sent
me to say e won't be able to come
and do the little job YOU arst i'm to-
'E's promised to go round the town
with the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. M. P.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
One More Observation-Disclosures.

Poor old Myer is dead see. He
led a life full OF disappointments."
How glad he would have been to
see his name in print" ffliegende
Batter.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12

The Rev. John w. Barnett, pastol
of the First Congregational churct
at Marblehead, Mass, has accepted Q
call from the Congregational ohnrcE
at Barre.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12

Scott-Haif the people in the world
don't know what the other half are
doing. Mott-No. That is Because the
other half are doing them Boston
Transcript.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
---s- go
Proof Positive.

Madge-How do you know she thinks
she's pretty?
Marjorie-She is always suggesting
to the girls that they have their pic
lures taken In q group.-Puck.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12

Frank Tomlinson, of Jonesville,
aged 70 years, apparently lost his
balance while reaching for pal of
wa" il, Il spring Sunday and iell
into the water and was drowned
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
THEY'RE Not In Life.

"wlves are always SO truthful ON
the stage"
(which shows that realism ON the
stage Is an utter myth. ~ KaDsas City
journal.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12

The Martin Manufacturing Co., of
Chester, with capital stock of
$500. organized for the purpose
of manufacturing and selling all
kinds of mechanical tools and tn
carry on a general manufacturing
business. fled recently articles of
incorporation in the Office of the
secretary of state at Montpelier.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12

The number Of births IN White
River Junction last wear was 90
carriages So; and deaths, so.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12

Obstructed scenery.
Bell-Did you and Jack enjoy the
ride in the taxicab7
Nell-No. We were too busy watch
Ing the Neutrality-suspicious. Spokes.
man-Review.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12

The Windsor Machine company
has 500 Names on its payroll.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12

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