davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
FIRST "DICTAGRAPH" IN USE
"Ear Of DionysIus" Got as Good Re.
sults as Does the Modern lnven-
tlon for Use of Eavesdroppers.

Sicily Is rich in Greek antiquities.
Some of the best are clustered togeth-
er on the outskirts of the old town Of
Syracuse. A very popular one is the
Ear Of Dionysius," in the Latonia
del Paradise, an old quarry used as a
prison by the Greeks. The walls of
this quarry are over 100 feet high,
and lean inward at an angle Of about
thirty degrees-all chisel work, done
by innumerable slaves. The idea was
to prevent any possibility of escape on
the part of the hapless prisoners con-
fined here, and as a further precau-
ton Dionysius had chiseled out in the
solid rock a vast cavity, very similar,
as seen from without. to human ear,
by means of which he is said to have
listened to the conversation of the
captives. The interior of the cavity
is in the shape Of the letter g."
and gradually tapers until at the ex-
IRENE summit you might perceive
small hole through which the daylight
comes. It was here that Dionysius did
his eavesdropping. The acoustic
properties Of this "ear" are extraor-
binary, the slightest whisper being
distinctly audible, while a loud noise.
like the slamming Of the door which
gives access to the ear" produces
rapid succession Of deafening re.
ports.-Wide World Magazine.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
STARS BRIGHTER THAN SUN
Estimation Of Astronomers 10 That
There Are Many Several Times
More Luminous.

Astronomers estimate that In .
sphere with a radius Of 100000
times the distance from the earth
to the sun there are nearly 1000 stars
which are from ten to one hundred
times as luminous as the sun.
In the same sphere are no less than
- 200 stars which are each as lumin-
Gus ~ the sun, and the enormous
number, Of $4,000 stars which have
-onetenth the brightness Of the orb
which lights our earth by day.
For convenience in studying them
astronomers have divided the starr
into six main classes, known rs B,
Az o. X and M stars. These classes
ere named In the order of their tenn
perature, the B stars being the bluest
and hottest, and the NJ the reddest
and coolest
The stars In class G are the most
like the sun, their spectra being full
Of metallic lines, and with broad lines
due to calcium.
All the red stars are divided into
two subdivisions known as giant and
dwarf stars. The former are thought
to be stars which are in an early stage
Of evolution and increasing in tenn
perature, while the latter are growing
older and darker. Taken altogether
the red stars average 100 times as
bright as the sun, and this Is the rea-
son Whv We can see them although at
great distances away.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
FINANCIAL CENTER OF WORLD
American Dollar Now at Premium In
All International Exchanges
Clear Through New York.

II IL the announced purpose Of one
Of the great trust companies Of New
York to sell travellers letters Of credit
figured in dollars instead Of pounds
sterling. They will be cashable at
established banking agencies abroad
ut liked rates between the dollar and
the money Of the visited country. The
expenditure will be collected through
dollar drafts drawn on and cleared in
New York. instead Of through sterling
drafts drawn on and cleared in Lon.
don.
As a symptom Of broad tendencies
In world finance induced by the war,
this IL important. The American dol
lar is now at a substantial premium
in practically all Of the international
exchanges. 1t is preferred above any
other money In settlement Of interna-
fective than any other money for
these purposes. Every foreign nation,
whether at war or neutral, would
rather have a credit account here than
anywhere else.
The financial center OF the world is
now admittedly In New York. VIII
It remain here after the war? Our
travellers abroad in peace times spend
yearly $i50,000,000 or more. II this
great credit sum were hereafter to be
cashed abroad in terms Of dollars
and cleared and collected through
New York instead of London, an
agency Of no small effect would be set
In action to hold here the financial ad.
vantage which the stress Of war has
forced Europe to surrender for tbs
time being.-New York World.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
nslaved ri aat Moments

In the battle of Friedland, on June
IA. 1907. there was a young lieutenant
In Napoleon's army named Schramm.
When the victorious general was riding
over the battlefield that evening ne
came upon the eighteen-year-oid ofncer
living on the ground mortally wounded
and weeping bitterly
"Why do you weep" asked Napo-
leon as he rode by.
because | must die before can
become a captain" the youth COM
planned.
The words of the dying lieutenant
softened the emperor's heart. my
son, l shall gladly fulfill your wish"
he said. 81 hereby advance you to the
rank OF captain
The unexpected promotion actually
saved the boys life. He recovered.
Later on he fought most valiantly for
the cause of Napoleon. and Dy the
time of the battle of Waterloo ne had
already become a general. He out
lived his last moments" on the field
of Friedland by more than seventy
years.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
Unqueotlonabjv.

unquestIonably.
Which would you rather n. q
chauffeur or an aviator?"
Well. the latter il the higher -
ton"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
Sikh's Disk of Death.

Sikh soldiers can certainly claim to
possess unique form of weapon.
This is a hand thrown missile com
posed Of metal similar in shape to the
discus. familiar in Roman history. Its
edge is sharpened like razor, and the
weapon, when thrown with a peculiar
circular motion, has extraordinary pen
etrating power. 1t cuts like a knife
through paper when it strikes any OBJ
ject in its path.
At distance Of hundred yards the
disk is capable Of cutting its way
through a piece Of hard wood two
inches thick. 1t is the peculiar twist
given to the weapon when it Is thrown
which causes the cutting edge to bury
itself so remorselessly in anything that
1t meets. 1t is doubtful whether any
but the Sikhs could effectively use this
unique weapon.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
Successfully Fiohts Pneumonia,

The open-air treatment of acute
pneumonia is reported by DR.. G. E.
Rennie to have achieved notable sue
cess at the Royal Prince Edward hos
pital Of Sydney. Australia. For seven
years Doctor Rennie has kept his own
patients in the open air night and
day, and quite recently this plan has
been adopted for all pneumonia cases
in the hospital. Recovery has been
rapid in cases that would have re-
suited fatally under the old method.
The ordinary conditions Of a close hos
pital atmosphere are very favorable
for the development Of the pneumonia
germs, and besides expose to mi
crebes liable to set up secondary In
lection. The fresh air, comparatively
free from bacteria, gives the more per-
feet aeration of the blood needed. The
artificial use of oxygen is rarely nee
essary as formerly, there is much less
difficulty of breathing and impairment
of circulation, the patients sleep bet
ter, the tongue is cleaner, the appetite
is nearer normal and convalescence is
rapid.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
Wars Effect on France.

In some places in France the church
bell, the timekeeper Of the village, no
longer rings the Angelus, booming
out liberation from work, nor does it
ring for mass or vespers. In the
church high mass is no longer sung,
the organ Is silent; in some churches
there is no priest at all. The bell
ringers, the choir, the priests, all have
gone to the war. And on the Grande
place the little cafes, so busy and so
gay on Sunday or on market day
they are all closed! The black-clad
men, the black-veiled women, pass by;
no one enters. No one has the heart
and much less the money to 60 to the
cafe, for everyone has someone, some
where, getting half-penny a day. III
faut bien lui envoyer tout ce que
ION a." And mothers and wives deny
themselves everything, starve them.
selves. even, to send all they have to
their soldier man.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
Empty Compliments.

+ - years or more ago Sir Harf,
Smith. after whose wife Ladysmith
was named. was governor of Cape Col
ony and led 4 number of campaigns
against the Kaffirs. Returning from q
par; ;,.ulariy lively one, he held q re-
~ir~ of his troops. who We're in 4 most
iilr',idated condition-barefOoted rag
gel " I'd half starving.
Y trn the time came for him to say
words he lavished praise upon
Il. dwelling upon their bravery. en-
re aud even upon their soldier
.-sc Ppearance.
Ia last compliment was too much
for ine patience Of the old colorser-
-:eS... He stepped forward-tattered
md npkempt-saluted most respect
full :.JG then said:
"L,ssiug your pardon. Sir AIRY, We
don't want no Cannon; We want
boots!"
: This outspoken criticism was for
tup. tely taken in good part and shortly
afterward the men got their bootS.-
London Scraps.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
Old Turkish Customs.

As long ago as 1913 Coryate visited
Constantinople and has left a minute
account Of its manners and customs
Among other matters he notes that III
is the custom that whatsoever any fire
,ariseth In the city to hang up him In
whose house it beginneth, as now .
cook in whose house it begun waa
hanged up presently after the FIRE ceas
ed" The Turks themselves, 1t appear
were models Of good breeding. THE
Turk doth never at the saluting Of hh
friend at any time Of the day or when
he drinketh to him at dinner or suppei
put OF his turban, as we Christians do
our hats one to another, but boweth
his head and putteth his right hand
upon bis breast, so that he utterly dis
nketh the fashion that is used amoni
Us Of putting of our hats. Therefore
when he wisheth any Ill to his enemy
he prayeth God to send him no NOR
rest than Christians hat"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
OWED SUCCESS To CHANGE
Accidental Discovery Enabled Man tc
Build Machine That simplIfied
Diamond Separation.

A young man in the Kimberley dia,
mond mines had been experimenting
for months in an effort to fnd a
way to separate diamonds from other
stones so as to eliminate the tiresome
tedious. Manipulating process. His eff
forts and labors had all been in vain,
but he refused to be discouraged and
adhered to his purpose.
One day he was working at hie
bench when small diamond and a
garnet happened to be lying On a
board before him. In some way he
tipped the board at such an angle
that the two stones rolled together to.
ward the edge. 1t happened that there
was small grease spot on the board,
and when the diamond reached II. it
was stopped and held, while tie gars
net passed on and fell over the edge.
Wondering whether this had been 4
mere accident or whether the grease
possessed the peculiar property OF at
tracing diamonds and allowing other
stones to pass over it, he tried again
and again with the first diamond and
with various others and found that if
q board were coated with grease and
vibrated slightly while held In an in
clined position the diamonds placed
on it would be caught and held by the
grease, while all of the other stones
would roll of He at once set to work
and as result of his accidental dis.
covery soon built machine which
was success from the sew heS.Y-
ming. In short time 1t was doing all
Of the work that had formerly been
done by hand, saving considerable
time and expense in the operation
Pathfinder.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
Embarrassing.

In South Africa General French earn
ed the title of the shirt sleeved gen
eral," Mr.. Chisholm says in Sir John
French" General French. was often
to be seen walking about in camp ID
shirt sleeves One afternoon CORE
spondent rode up to the lines and. see
ing soldier sitting on bundle of hay
smoking a dilapidated looking old briar
pipe, asked where the general was.
''The old man is somewhere about,
coolly replied the soldier.
"Well. just hold my horse while go
and search for him"
Certainly. sir" and the smoker rose
obediently and took the bride.
Can you tell me where the general
is?' inquired the correspondent of a
staff officer farther down the line.
General French? oh, he's some
where about Why. there he is. hold
ing that horses headr'
And the officer pointed directly TO
the smoker still TRANQUILITY pulling at
his pipe and holding the horse.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
MACHINERY BAD FOR NERVES
Bound e Wear Away Vitality II
Those Constantly at Work Amid
Perpetual Whir. VT

\ A great many men and women who
work IN busy factories, where there
Is : perpetual whir Of machinery. are
facing as great hardships as any work
can bring. Consciously or unconsci-
ously. the noise 10 wearing away their
Vitality Just 40 . grindstons wears
away tho steel Of the blade that is
being sharpeped.
There u . certain regular rhythm
In all the simpler kinds Of work. This
y seen IN the fact that most Of them
have developed songs Of their own
Sailors have their "chanties." SOL
dieis march to the beat Of the drum:
spinning, weaving and farming labors
have inspired songs and dances. Man
II in tune with nature, too, and while
the storm may produce awe 1t does
not fatigue the brain.
The rhythm Of machinery, however.
Ii altogether too fast for human
rhythm, and the body never actually
becomes accustomed to It. No matter
what may be . mans natural pace, he
must follow the speed Of q nonhuman
power, which, like . tireless demon.
drives him night and day. And. all
the while, the whir Of the machinery
around him CRATES upon the brain un-
ceasingly.
Sometimes we think we have got
used to It.
Not so. We may have become
dulled. but that il . sign that some
thing Is lost, some sensitive feeling
gene It is q sign Of wearing out.
1t IL the myriad voices of the over
busy modern worlds machines that
are doing more than anything else to
wreck our nerves.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
6arls,s sSsstee s mes.

4 prominent aIleIilst mas presumed
to put love on a scientific bass. tir
has issued formula by which 4
doubling swain mas, ;lsee. tain without
fail the name of his closest rival for
her" affections.
Here 1t is:
CareIessly bold her wrist. as If
caressingly. Crafty place your fore
finger on her" pulse Then nam,
over in casual conversation the riva,s
you fear most When you name the
right one her" pulse will jump scam
dalously. If itsincreases something like
100 beats you might as we'll quit the
race.
To offset this mean betrayal the
alienist has issued some hints to the
fair sex on how to avoid nervousness.
"Scorn gossip he says, "and don't at
tend to other persons business or
worry over their troubles and you will
be all right
But he doesn't say a word as to how
Dulcinea might have kept the fatal
pulse jump from giving her away
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
City of Magnificent Distances.

When the government was moved to
Washington in 1850 it was far from
being satisfactory place of residence.
The city was laid out in the wilder
ness. They took 10 the woods" for
capital city. 1t was the first time that
a government had actually co. nto
the wilds and selected site tJr :. ap-
ital and laid out its city on a well de-
fined plan. As beautiful as we consid-
er Washington today. the minister
from Portugal. the Able Corea. who
was considered one of the greatest
wits of his time and who in 1916 called
1t ''the city of magnificent distances"
SO named it purely in derision. In that
day there was little but distance in
the city. AS late as 1912 Charles Dick,
ems, after his visit. wrote that its
streets begin in nothing and lead no
where. "-Frederick L. Fishback in Ma
tional Magazine.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
Modern Business.

Oh, business, what sins are com.
mftted in thy name! Thou art like
charity, for thy magic formula doth
cover a multitude OF sins" Many
are the men who fall down and wor-
ship thee land none other)! Not only
time and talent, but hearts blood are
sacrificed on thine tmpious altar!
Thy shrines are cold with dead loves.
reeking with forfeited joys. Mercy
and pity are vanished far from the
portals Of thy temples. Sweet char
ity falls dead, stricken by the glare
Of thy polished brass. Thou slayest
ideals and murderest sympathy and
cost crowd the spirit Of service out
Of the read of life. Thou killest with
surfeit and mad passion of contest;
thou dcst SURROGATE the timid and weak
with want and fear Of age, hunger and
tnfirmity. Thou art blasphemous,
arrogant, heartless idol and tyrant Of
man.-Rev. g. I. Browne.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
Resistance bv Air.

The effects Of air resistance are web
shown in the twelve and half miles
Simplon tunnel. where an exception
ally high amount Of energy is required
for running the electric trains. Ths
tunnel. which is fifteen feet wide and
eighteen feet high, with sectional
area Of $50 square feet, has venti-
1ating current Of $3.50 feet cubic Of ali
per second, maintained by two large
blast fans at the Brigue end and tive
exhaust fans at Iselle. Trains going
with this current encounter less re
sistance than In open air up to fifteen
and half miles an hour, but at higher
speeds or in the opposite direction the
resistance is much greater than out
side. Moving by gravity down the
seven per one thousand maximum gra
dent, train, even though going with
the current, cannot exceed thirty-five
miles an hour on account Of the brak
ing by the air.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
lmpertInenee of Genius.

DR.. johnson once called upon Davit
Garrick in London and was shown into
his study. Unfortunately. door beine
open, he strayed into an adjoining
room, which contained the novels and
lighter works which had been pre-
scented as tributes to the highly ad
mired actor Johnson first read a bit
from one and then another and threw
them down, strewing the floor with
the expensive volumes. Garrick wal
angry at finding johnson there and
said, This is private cabinet, and nc
company Is admitted here"
But" said johnson, with imperti
nent GOODNESS, ~ was determined tt
examine your valuables. which l find
consist Of three sortsLstuff, trash and
nonsense"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
oeIdsmith At Edlnburoh.

The roll Of honor in the book, ia
nous Edinburgh Students" includes
the name Of Oliver Goldsmith-which
may surprise many people, the fact
that he had at any time any associa.
ton with Scotland being little known.
says the London Chronicle. It tooa
several universities to complete the
education Of Oliver Goldsmith and Ed
inburgh was one OF them. After hs
graduated at Dublin he spent three
years In verse writing, flute playing
and In more or less perfunctoriIy
studying law at London and medicine
at Leyden and the Scottish capital.
he was in Edinburgh somewhat too
soon to have met either Burns or Rob.
ert Ferguson, both Of whom would
would have been men after his own
heart Each could have piloted him to
distinguished and diAreputable boozin
kenR
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
ProIifc Eunqi.

- average sized mushroom will pro-
duce as many as 1.S00. O0O,0 600 spores.
and common tOadstool shaggy cap
has been shown to produce as many
as ;,.00Otak.0OO. Fortunately for the
otter inhabitants Of the world. how
eve. the probability OF successful
growth of any given spore Is some
what remote.
Tie mushroom or toadstool plant Is
formed by 6ne Harmonious threads
ii il ramify beneath the soil. and II
:issumr that successful plant Of
~ mushroom or shaggy caps pro-
a., as aiany as ten mushrooms or
o. aois we find that the chance
ass..,as. successful growth to maturity
ts p specify Ely about $4,000, 100000 and
7t,taa, oA.WU to one in the two species
ae"' ioned. Even more prolific than
he mushrooms and toadstools proper
Is tie giant puffball, large specimen
of hich has been known to produce
as many as 1000. 900, 100000 spores--
London Knowledge.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
Risky Revenge.

Paganini, the wonderful violinist,
had a narrow escape at Ferrara from
a violent death. Enraged by some
Kissing from the pit, he resolved to
avenge the insult and at the close of
his program informed the audience
that he would initiate the language
of various animals. After having
rendered the notes of different birds,
the mewing Of cat and and the bark
ing of dog he advanced to the foot
lights and saying, This is for those
who hissed!' initiated the brayiIg Of
an ass. At this the occupants of the
pit rose, rushed on to the stage and
would have killed their calumniator
had he not hastily retreated.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
Grecian Food For Dreamers.


Hasheesh. the strange drug which
has given our language its word las.
SASHA man SO frenzied by the drug
that he accomplishes murder is used
by the Persians. Turks and Egyptians.
It is the product Of plant grown In
large quantities in the feloponnesus
(southern Greece,, in the district about
Tripolitza. The plant grows to
height Of about four feet, and its
branches are thickiy covered with
small leaves and studded with tiny
seeds. The entire plant. stalk and
branches. is cut within few inches Of
the root and laid out in the sun to dry.
The branches are then rubbed to sepa.
rate the seeds, and these in turn are
ground into a fine powder, which con.
stitutes the drug. The drug has the
power of inducing sleep and producing
pleasant and fantastic dreams. Con.
dnued use of hasheesh renders it's dew
otees reckless and results in a wreck
Of their mental and physical constitu
ton.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
Curious Gaelic Alphabet


4 very curious and distinguAAfn9
Characteristic Of the Gaelic alphahet
y that nearly every letter thereof y
represented by a tree. While the Al
phabet Of ancient Gaelic comprised
but seventeen letters. that Of modern
Gaelic has eighteen. But With the
new forms. a. With the old, the letter
b represented BY . tree. The excep-
tons are 81" =" ana -" whicA
stand for IVY" ''furser and .hsathef..
The alphabet now stands: Atm,
beta. coll. dur. eash. fearl, gath,
huath, iogh, fuis, muin, NUN, DIV,
peith, ru1s. suil. teine. ur. all Of which
= equal to saying: Elm. birch. hAAei,
oak. aspen. alder. ivy. vhitethorn. ysw.
rowan or quicken. vine, ash. spindle
eree. pine. elder. willow, furse, heath
h the old Gaelic alphabet the letter
-" Cthe huath or whitethorny does not
exist The alphabet - called TIE beth
luisauin, because Il" Il N" and NOT
~" - e" are the nrst three letter.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-27
Ias.a,rs nsslase he pass.s.

While there have been many discus.
sions as to the relative value Of the
different branches Of an army, there
is no doubt, according to a writer in
the Scientific American, but that 1t is
the infantry that wins battles.
While it is probable the success q
q battle will depend to large extent
on the support of the field artillery.
It is certain that the principal and
most important arm Is the infantry.
which lh practically every case must
decide the Anal issue. The cavalry
may be the first to be drawn into a
battle and the artillery may destroy
the enemy's artillery. but a battle ID
never won until the infantry has drtv'
en back the enemy's lines.
The usual mode Of advancing fei
the infantry is to deploy them In line
with a long interval between each sol
dier. This naturally is for the pur.
pose Of Offering smaller target fol
the enemy 1t makes it more diff
cult, however, for the leaders to keel
Is good control over the men. and fol
that reason one Of the objects of field
artillery Is to make the enemy's troops
deploy early.