davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
AN ANTlQUATED GUN.
VEL Camille" At West Point, B Relic Of
the Mexican War.

VEL Camille" At West Point. 3 Relic Of
the Mexican War.
Among the old guns from past wars
on Trophy point there IL one that 10
fondly remembered by every graduate
of the West Point Military academy.
1t is "El Camilo." literally 1.-The camel"
q relic Of the Mexican war. but dating
far back Of that
This antiquated piece Of ordnance.
which il three parts silver and painted
q light green. bears its name and the
royal coat Of arms Of Spain over an
inscription relating that It was the
PROPERTY Of the regiment OF the Golden
Fleece. commissioned under Ferdinand
and Isabella at the time when Column
bus set out on his famous voyage to
discover a new world. 1t would be
interesting to know what the Spanish
crandees would have thought II they
could have foreseen that the very can
non which probably thnndered god
speed to the explorer would one day be
captured by the unborn nation Of the
undiscovered continent to which Co.
lumbus was bound. The ancient gun
was probably carried to Mexico as
part Of the armament Of Spanish
ship and many years later was pressed
into service in the Mexican army.
where the "sinews Of war" were al
ways at premium. 1t was taken
at Monterey by the Americans ana
sent to West Point as the most aRpro-
pirate place for such AL interesting
relic. New York Press.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
4 FisH STORY.
The Man Who Told Il Said Il Wee
6impty q True Narrative.

The Man Who Told Il Said Il Wee
Simply True Narrative.
A man who formerly was waiter
on u big tfansatlan liner told this
story the other day:
.,On a certain trip over had at my
table an irascible old gentleman who
wus fresh air fiend. No matter what
the weather be always insisted On
having the pOrthOle over the table
open II was no use 10 argue with
him. hut one day when the seas were
very high and the ship pitching and
rolling | ventured TO remUnstrate. He
was up In arms In minute. You are
paid to obey ORDERS he said Jartly.
Omen that port | did. The soup
course was served In safety. Then |
asked him II he would have tish. or
course ! will he snapped. And III
have It In IL hurry. Don't keep me
waiting all day.
"Just ut that moment an unusually
big sea rolled by that IL. part Ut It
did A g0odly portion came through
the portfolio. soaking the old man ana
depOsiting nn the table IN front OF hin
u live fish No waiter on board of
our ship had ever served an order 40
quickly before Rut | didn't gel any
credit for IT, The queer thing about
that story" he added. lis that II isn't
a tish story at all. ! never told II yet
to nLy one who believed II. but 1t Ii
absolutely true."-New York Press.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
Dickens, cramped Quarters.

Bleak House ut Rroadstairs Is Of
interest to the Dickens lover because
the greater part Of David Copper
field" was written there. But 1t Is not
the Bleak House Of the novel. which
is definitely located in Hertfordshire.
The novelist and his family appear to
have been somewhat tightly packed In
their Broadstairs home. When LORD
Carlisle contemplated paying visit to
"our watering place" in 1851 Dickens
wrote promising him the North Fore
land lighthouse for night light IN his
bedroom. and he continues. las we
think Of putting mignOnette boxes out.
side the windows for the younger chill
dren to sleep In by and by ! am
afraid we should give your servant the
cramp II we hardly undertook to lodge
him" During recent years the house
has been transformed out Of all recog.
nitiOn.-London Spectator.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
EUGENIE'S ESCAPE.
Row tho Empress Got Out Of France
After Sedan.

now tn0 Empress SOt Sot " VTaHS0
After Sedan.
AS soon as the hot headed citizens of
Paris learned in September. 1870. that
their emperor, Napoleon ILL.,. had sur
rendered to the Prussians Mt Sedan
these Parisians rose In riOtous mob
and made p0sthaste for the Tuileries.
They were armed and after royal
blood and plumber. The empress had
to fee for her life. Assisted by the
Austrian and italian ministers, she
made a hurried flight from the palace,
but found the mob ahead Of her In
the garden; back again and then out
by secret way into side street.
where they entered carriage. A
street gamin recognized the empress
here. but the shouting Of the mob was
so great that the boys cry Of warning
was not needed
Once the carriage was stopped by a
mob. but the party alighted and man
aged to escape. Finding themselves
near the residence of DR.. Evans. the
American dentist. they took refuge
there. and the doctor took upon him
self the responsibility Of Empress Eus>
genle's safety. The empress put on
dress belonging to Mrs. Evans and.
with Nine Breton, her friend. was
driven by DIR. Evans to the suburbs.
Dr. Evans explained that the women
we're patient and her attendant
whom he was taking to sanitarium.
Two days later the fugitives reached
coast town. whence they escaped to
England.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
HIS PLAN OF THE DAY.
Rigid Rules Of Living Made by . Co..
Ionisi Minister.

Riaid Rules Of Living Made by . Co..
loniai Minister.
An orderly arrangement or WORKING
hours Is a desirable and time saving
thing but when one reads the plan OF
the day made by colonial parson. he
cannot help wondering where the good
mans family life came In. and II the
system held any possibility Of relaxa.
ton. The record. quoted by william
Root Bliss. in "Side Glimpses From
the Colonial Meeting House." Is taken
from the diary Of Thomas Prince.
minister Of the Old South church. Bos-
ton.
'lus Oct 30th l marry
Nov. TO- We begin to keep House.
My proposed order is:
At get I'D and go into Study Pray
and read In original Bible till =. and then
call up the Family.
At Sh 60 to Family Prayers and only
the Porringer Of Chocolat for Breakfast
till T. 60 into my Study till l2la. then do
something about the House till to din
ner. except on Thursday study till lO15.
then dress and II Lecture
At 2 Dress and go abroad till Candle
light. Except Wednesdays after Dinner
do something about the House and Satur-
day afternoons visit at DR. Sewalrs till
2k, then Home and study till Candlelight.
Study till 9h
Oh go to- Family Prayers and go to Bed.
N. 3. eat no Supper.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
Dairy Doings.

Never offer a pound Of poor butter
for sale. Better take 1t right out and
bury It In the back lot.
Do not move the, cows faster than, q
comfortable walk while on the way to
the place Of milking or feeding.
Probably no single cause tends more
to check milk secretion than the fail
ure to remove all the milk secreted at
the time Of milking.
The, animal that Is expected to make
you profit must be made comfortable.
Pleasant and comfortable quarters are
great feed ecOn0mizers.
Buttermaking can be readily reduc-
ed to system and should be. 1t IL
the slipshod way that causes SO much
poor butter to be sent to market.
Keep the tanks and udders of the
cows clipped. II k,much easier than
to clean the parts before milking. IL
helps to keep dirt out Of the milk.
To clip the cows all over once or
twice year will do them good.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
THE EARTH'S CHANGES.

What the Fossil Remains Of Plants
and Animals Tell vs..
There was time when even the
polar regions bloOmed with many Of
the splendid and varied forms Of life
that now adorn the tropics.
Tie fossil remains Of these ancient
forms preserved In the bosom Of the
rocks carry US back perhaps millions
Of years In the earth's history and
show clearly what wonderful revolu-
lions the surface Of the globe has un-
dergone since the first plants and the
first animals appeared upon 1t.
Who would think Of meeting rhi-
noeeros nowadays on the prairies of
northwestern Canada unless perhaps
travelling menagerie should pass that
way? Yet ut one time. as discoveries
of recent years prove. creature close
~ resembling the rhinoceros Of India
and Africa dwelt in that now compar-
atively cold. snowy and barren region.
Remains Of these extinct ancestors
Of nm animal that In our day thrives
only in the tangled tropical forests and
under the hot equatorial sun have been
found buried In the Canadian rocks.
where now the cold blasts Of winter
blow over treeless plains and sweep
the TANKS of Ice incrusted mountains.
The rhinoceros of that remote age
was no less formidable beast than
its descendants. for the skull of one OF
the skeletons discovered IL three feet
long. while @,me Of Its teeth are four
Inches across.
The fossil remains Of many other
forms of animals have been found In
the same region within recent years.
Harpers Weekly.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
Tax on Bachslordopn.

During the period under William
III. when bachelordom was taxed
peers had to pay more dearly thnn
cpmmoners for the privilege Of single
bliss. The yearly tax levied ON bach
e!ors ranged from fl2 lis. In the case
of dukes and arrhbishops down to
shilling in the case Of those scheduled
rs "other persons" Furthermore.
duke was compelled to pay ESQ when
he married. ESQ when his eldest NON
was. born. f25 when every yoVngerser
WAS horn. $50 when his ekiAsat son was
married. ESQ when his wife was buried
and ESQ when his eldest SOD was
buried. And the other members Of the
peerTge had TO pay similar taxes grad
uated according to their rank.-l.on
don Chronicle.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
Too Late.

Mr.. r. drove up in a hanson and en-
tered the jewelers. shop accompanied
by his valet. who carried an oblong
box Of steel. Mr.. B. asked for pri-
vate interview. and on being shown
into the office he opened the box. ex-
posing splendid array of diamond
and pearl necklaces. earrings. tiaras
and rings.
Mrs. b." he said, lis now abroad.
Before she returns | want you to cx-
tract these stones and replace them
with good limitations. selling the real
jewels and giving me the money. This.
of course, Is to be a confidential trans
action. Mrs. B. is to know nothing
Of it,
MY dear SIR" said the jeweler. IL
should be glad to do as you ask. but
IL is impossible. Two years ago Mrs.
B. called here on the same errand
that now brings you, and this errand
in her case was successful The paste
jewels that you offer me are worth
little more than the hire Of the han
som awaiting you outside. London
Tit Bits.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
Plants That Shoot Arrows.

The arrows are crystal needles OF
oxalate of lime. They are of microscope
ic dimensions. and they are shot from
minute capsule shaped bodies found
in the tissues of such plants as the
Indian turnip and the Polynesian taro.
An extraordinary spectacle may be
viewed in the field Of the microscope
when the "bOnds" contained in a drop
of taro pulp begin to discharge their
arrows. Sometimes only one or two
needles and sometimes groups of four
TO ten were discharged at once. the
bomb recOiling as the prOjectiles left
1t. 1t has been suggested that the
intense burning and pricking sensa-
tions experienced in chewing such
plants as those just mentioned are due
to the release and discharge Of these
crystal arrows when the plant tissues
are crushed In the mouth Harper's
Weekly.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
LOVES LABOR LOST.

Hs Intended to Do Generous. but HE
Bride Thought Otherwise.
.'What is the matter?" inquired her
dearest friend as she was ushered
into the boudoir Of her newly married
chum and found. instead Of the vision
Of happiness she had expected. dis
heveled heroine largely dissolved IN
tears. what Is the mattcrT'
"AlGerpon has gone away Tor a
week.
"But. my child. you don't mean to
say that you are such turtle doves
that you can't spare him for q week
without making scene like this?"
"Oh. NO. 1t isn't that at all! or
course II Ia hard to I've alone. but he
has at last shown me what a monster
he H."
why. this ia shocking! What can
he have done? You haven't found be
was already married orr
mo, NO. no! It's only that he Ia Il
hesrtless. miaerly creature. Only
think! ask, d him to leave me
check to pay for things while he was
away"-
"Well. surely he didn't refusey'
mo: worse than that--far worse! He
lust wanted to wound and humtliate
me! He left me check. all dated and
signed. complete. except that he, didn't
put any amount In! Wasn't that very
cruelY'-Judge
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
Wainuts a. Food.

The ancients held the walnut In high
esteem. Mortals could aud did exist
on asorns. but waInuts were ~ de-
liclons IN taste, and .fsvOrs 10 palatsble
and nutritious. that they were revered
az food only tor the gads to dine upon.
Modern investigation and modern GUS
toms have pap,llarised the uses Of the
walnut TO such an extent that II 10
now regarded not. only ~ luxury. but
a. II food rot great nutritive value. A
chemical analysis Of the nut shows
that 1t IN nix times AZ nutritious as
meat. No vegetable, or fruit. with the
possible exception, Of the olive can be
compared with the walnut as a strength
giving and fat producing food. All
nuts are possessed Of elements Of nu-
triton. but the highest in rank Is the
Observation-Disclosures Guardian.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
AnaIvxis Of LAUGHTER.

For the benefit OF melancholy
world an English professor has been
devoting Ills careful. scientific atten-
ton to laughter and has prepared an
expert analysis Of the whole business.
according to the Providence Journal.
Laughter" he says. lis convulsive
action Of the diaphragm. In this state
the person draws full breath and
throws 1t out in interrupted. short and
audible cachinnations. This convuE
sion Of the diaphragm IL the. principal
part Of the physical manifestation OF
laughter. but there are several acces'
sories. especially the sharp vocal ut
teranee arising from the violent ten
sion Of the larynx and the expression
Of the features. this being a more In
tense form of the smile In extreme
cases the eyes are mOistened' by the
effusion from the laehrynal glands.
Philadelphia Ledger.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14

The bAd1lao compessn charssd No
heelmssAsrs Opinion.

OD00OuUb6VvOES ~psv'"
When t,ounod was NJ the school OF
one who was cuiled the good Papa
Pierson he was constantly scribbliny
musical no.es. : tine day the school
master sent for him into his study.
"Your parents complain" said Pier
son. They do not wish any musician
in their family. You must be profess
sor"
"Never!''
"Your only choice IL between Greek
Aid Latin"
but ! will be musician. sa'd
Gounod.
"You will? Give It up. say: 1t IL no
profession at all. However. we will
lust see what you can do. Here's pen
and paper. Compose for me a new air
to Joseph's words. a peine an sortir
de l'enfapce:
1t was the recreation hour.
Before the bell sounded for the stud
les to begin again GounOd came back
with his paper completely covered.
Already" cried piersOn. well.
sing It Them
Gounod sang and accompanied him
self and 30 deeply affected poor Papa
Pierson that with tears he pressed him
In his arms and exclaimed:
"Oh. my dear boy! Henceforth they
may say what they like, but mu-
sician you shall be and nothing else -
From the German.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
RIVER BOTTOM DRAINS.
p.sn. taynend shows THAI. Tllss Must
n Used 20 Obtain Results.

pesn, aaynaond shows That. TIIss Must
% Used TO Obtain Results.
The river bottoms VI Iowa are usual
" broad. with little st0Re toward the
river and almost universally with
banks slightly higher than the land
farther back, these banks forming nat
ural levsaa to Keep the river OF the
bottom lands, except at 4ery. high wa
ter, but also serving to hold water
on the bottom lands. for long periods
in the spring and after dood stages Of
the river A result Of this forma-
ton many thousands Of acres Of the
richest. most valuable land are wholly
unproductive. says Dean William g.
Raymond Of the Engineering State
university of Iowa city. They are COW
cred BY shallow ponds TINT dry out
only late In the season Or serve only
for wild hay or inferior pastures.
Attempts to drain these lands by
open bitches have sometimes been sue
cessful, but often have not owing to
the very sliAt fall that can be had.
the rapid choking Of bitches by vege-
tation and the blocking OF the mouth
nv river silt aud sand. Moreover. this
method wastes considerable quantities
OF this same most valuable land that
It Is sought to reclaim. An open ditch
must have easy side slopes to prevent
Gazing In Of the sides. and the dirt
taken from the ditch Is deposited
alongside, so that properly construct.
ed ditch only one foot wide on the bot.
tom and four feet deep IL likely to
waste a strip of land twenty i've to
thirty feet wide for Its entire length.
A mile Of such ditch would consume
over three acres Of tillabie ground. II
the annual profit to be earned on such
land IL only $3.50 per acre, this would
represent at 8 per cent capital &C.
count Of $3.50 that could be added to
the cost Of an open ditch to build tile
drain. and II the annual cost Of clean
ing the open ditch be capitalized In
similar manner sum possibly even
larger could be added to the cost Of
an open ditch to build tile drain.
An open ditch that will even ap.
proximate the drainage effect OF q
twelve incl tile cannot be properly
built for Iess than from $7OO to $1,000
q mile. depending on the soil. the labor
market and the class Of labor availa-
BILE. while the cost of twelve inch
tile we'll laid may be rs little as about
$1,4OO mile. as IL shown by the fol.
lowing cost Of $500 feet Of such tile
drain laid for Mr.. Fl. r. MoSnat OF
Belle PLANE. The cost was $696.78
A there were 27O acres directly
benefited by this drain the cost was
about 1892 per acre. Half Of this
land had never been under cultivation
and the other half only In dry years.
About seventy acres were IN two ponds.
md various attempts had been made
to drain these by open bitches. but
without success.
The result has l~en gratifying. and
the owner was offered 40 per cent
increase OH the st,st Of the land and
tile ~ sOen M II was demonstrated
that the ponds could be drained This
particular line of tile averaged four
to four and half feet deep and open
ed into the Iowa river by tide gate
or dap valve that let's the water into
the river at ordinary stages and keeps
the river out Of the tile ut high wa
fer
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
Charms Of Labrador.

People are not apt to think OF Labra-
dor as a particularly delightful land
to dwell In. No tourist thinks OF going
there for summer vacation. Yet II
MIR. II. Fl. Richards Impressions.
gathered while hunting big game. are
to be accepted. Labrador possesses
charms Of scenery that 1t would be diff
ficuit to match elsewhere In the world
The words that he quotes from Salta-
tina. a "YeilOwknife Indian" best In
dicate the nature Of these scenes
"You say the kingdom of heaven Is
good. my father. but tell me. Is 1t
better than the land Of the musk OK
In summer. when the lakes are some
times misty and sometimes blue, and
the looms cry often? That Is good. my
father. and II heaven ia better shall
be- willing to dwell there until l am
very. very old" YOUTH Companion.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
PICKED 4 safe sP0T.
~ Vented ~ sasy aFsp Y He Nisssd
I " .Nhe Ma sHoac

The red bear of Asia lives In lofty
mountain solitudes. rarely coming Ne.
low an altitude Of SuO0 feet. For the
greater part Of the year he Is content
with a vegetarian diet. and leads
blameless and estimable life. but IN
the spring be becomes niachteyous,
and then q man who pursues him IN
his native haunts must be mountain
Ger as we'll as q hunter. The follow
ing incident from "Sp0rt and Life In
the Further Himalayas." BY R. L.
Kennion, illustrates the double danger.
Ny. Gilgt stalker used to tell OF
bear that was a terror to the goat
herds sent to graze the village nocks
in the Rakhiot glen, not only robber.
but a trucculent one. who committed
his crimes in the broad light Of day
and cared. tor neither man nor dog.
Gul Sher encountered him when out
with T., q noted shot from among the
small party Of officers then ut Gilgit.
Behind them yawned a precipice; IN
front was the big bsast. Grunting and
slavering at the m0,Ith. They faced
one another while men could count
score" and still T. did not shoot The
bear advanced.
"Shootw cried Gul Sher, but I. only
looked round over his shoulder. me
bear came on. Then T. slowly put his
rifle up and shot him dead through the
head.
and why had not T. shot him BE-
foreY' 1 asked.
THAT IL what wanted to know"
the stalker said, land he told me that
he was Just looking for the easiest
place to 60 down the precipice In case
the bear was not killed"
was sitting hearing the story at
the exact spot where 1t happened ana.
going to the edge. looked over. Inc
first thing to break fall was q green
lawn Of pine treetops 1900 feet be-
low.-Youth's Companion.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
ALASKAN MOSQUITOES.
They Are Small and Silent. but Work
With Fire Tjppsd Stinus.

WIN IHo VIPpoo 0tiU8Ss
Mosquitoes in this icebound north
ern country. Alaska, are u plague be-
yond relief. They come to life about
the middle Of May. before the ground
Is thawed out and while many fest Of
ice still cover the lakes and all but the
swiftest rivers. Stagnant. sun heated
water Is not in the least necessary.
They breed in the glaciers wherever
bit of earth or manure has melted a
little pool. Their wrigglers are seen
In running ice water. BY the LIST of
June Il Is uncomfortable to sleep with
out protection. and from that time on
until September, when the first frOStS.
have benumbed them. especially dur
ing the warna. rainy season of July
and August. they become Il never ceas-
ing scourge. swarming in thousands.
The Alaskan mosquito is small,
brown. silent and very much in ear
nest He never sings u warning nor
fools about selecting spot to his
taste. but comes in bee line with his
probe and gets into action. Every
inch of your clothing is industriously
bored. so that you look like an ami
mated brown cocoon. and the slightest
exposed spot Oh wrist or neck Is
promptly set OH fire. | Experimental
with small hole In my glove. After
the first mosquito bad found the open
Ing others came in quick succession
TO the spot. He left some microscopic
"kind lady and no dog" sign there. Ii
killed the first and left his carcass
1t served as warning not at all. The
others came the faster. and the more
killed the more eager the survivors be-
came. perching quite unmoved on the
remains Of their CONVERSATIONAL To-
day.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
And All of Them Americans.

An English visitor has recently been
expressing his wonderment at the IA
cility with which America assimilates
its stream Of immigrants. friend
with whom he was talking on the
subject remarked. MY hOusemaid Ia
Norwegian. my grocer Scotchman,
my butcher Is a German. my druggist
IL IL Finn. my barber an Italian. my
npwSman u Jew. my Mundryman Is
Irish. my hshmonger English. my
florist Greek and my tailor Russian"
American Hebrew.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-14
The First Iron BRIDGE,

The first iron bridge ever erected IN
the world and which d inscsnstant uSe
at the present time spans a little river
in the county Of Salop. on the railroad
leading from Shrewsbury to Worces
ter. England. 1t was built In the year
l77s and is exactly ninety-six feet ~
length The total amount of irens nsed
in No construction was S7& tpna xtAn
phensen. the great engineer. ~ writ
ing eenearaing II said. ''Wben We con
siden the fact that the casting Of iron
was Of that time IN Ia infsncy. We
are, convinced that unhlushing audao.
ity alone could coneeive and carry into
execution aush. IN undertaking."